First Sunday of Advent
St Mary's Cathedral
Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1,3-8 1 Cor 1:3-9 Mk 113:33-36
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
1 Dec 2002
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the time when we prepare for the feast of Christmas. The year has rushed by once again and the particular danger at this time for many of us is that the next month will also rush by with us scarcely glancing at its religious significance.
As you know we have a three year cycle of readings for our Sunday Masses. In the three gospels, like Mark's today, we are told to get with the job on hand "because you never know when the time will come." If the master comes unexpectedly he must not find us asleep - especially as this touches our religious and spiritual duties broadly defined.
There is no doubt that a loose uncoordinated coalition of "elite" opinion makers of Australia would like to make secularism our new state religion, with God explicitly banished from public occasions. This affects us in our heart of hearts also. Are these people right? Can I be sure in my heart that God exists? Do we have any right to inflict our views on others by publicly professing our faith?
I believe that as one dimension to the freedom of religion we must be able to profess our faith publicly, but that is a theme for another occasion.
My concern is that we use this Advent season to resist these hostile pressures, to strengthen our own faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God by some self examination, some extra prayer and some good works. Advent is certainly a time to go confession, especially for those who are not regulars.
The situation will vary for each one of us, but one product of self examination might be, indeed should be to thank God for all the good things we have received. We should not give into the temptation to concentrate only on the set-backs and sadnesses, but include also all the blessings we are tempted to take for granted. At a religious level too, since most of us were born into Catholic families, we should thank God for the gift of faith, for the awareness of purpose and meaning in our lives which this brings; in other words for the gifts of the Spirit which should keep us steady and without blame until the last day, as Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth.
Our faith is not a burden; we are not in the same position as those who are still searching, much less those who have rejected God. Our faith is a blessing, an immense benefit.
We also start Advent with one particular, suggestion, which is a good one.
Christian Church leaders have called on all of us for a National Day of Prayer, to be celebrated today, for those people afflicted by drought here in Australia. We also urged to pray for rain itself as well as for those working to alleviate drought-related suffering.
Even by Australian standards this drought is unusual because it so widespread. Some wheat silos have opened only once in the past 5 or 6 years. The last 6 months in Sydney have been the driest on record, but we Sydneysiders with our wonderful supply of water can only imagine the problems from the "dry" in the west of our state.
Often it is not only land and finances, which are damaged, but the workers and their families, where enormous strain can be placed on family relationships.
Prayer is an important expression of solidarity between those suffering and those who want to help, but prayer is not an alternative to practical assistance. For us Christians both are necessary.
Country people, with dwindling local populations and dwindling services, sometimes imagine they have been abandoned by their richer cousins along the coast, especially in the major cities. But most refuse to abandon their humour or their stoicism. It is an old saying that "There is no point in praying for rain unless the wind is from the west", but rain does occasionally sweep down from the north.
They are always confident that rain will come, because its always rains at the end of a drought!
There is no doubt that God has a difficult task answering our different and conflicting requests. Sometimes it would be bad if we received what we requested. Midas wanted everything he touched turned to gold and it was.
Some years ago, a friend of mine with a large family was dying from cancer. It was suggested to him, as he lay sick in bed that he too should pray for a miracle cure. "No need for that", he replied, "there has already been a miracle; my being able to accept my illness."
Christ told us to continue to pray, despite difficulties, to persevere, especially when it seems our prayers are not heard. He also explained that successful prayer needs faith in God who is being addressed. We are to trust in providence. Look at the birds in the sky who are fed by their Heavenly Father. One of the strangest teachings from Christ in the New Testament is that if our faith was strong enough even a mountain could be uprooted and thrown into the sea! Not too many have passed that test.
I repeat, Advent is a time when we struggle to strengthen our personal faith. But we can also develop a strong sense of solidarity within communities across the rural and urban divide and we can find practical ways to help our country cousins.
This would be one good way to start preparing for Christmas.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
