Sunday, 27 November 2011
Stained glass window at the Melkite Catholic Annunciation Cathedral in Roslindale, Massachusetts depicting Christ the King with the regalia of a Byzantine emperor. January 2009 photo by John Stephen Dwyer
First Sunday of Advent – Year B
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 13:33-37.
Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. . . .
ADVENT - Sermon by Fr. Hugh . . .
ADVENT 2011
'Behold the King is coming, let us go to meet our Saviour'
The Latin word from which the English term is derived means 'He comes'. The coming of God to mankind is a persistent theme running through all salvation history. God is infinite love infinite is of the nature of goodness to pour itself out; to share with others. It is of the very opposite to self-centredness, being mean, and being disinterested in others. All through the Bible we see this divine desire to draw mankind into close friendship and to give a peace, joy and security which the world cannot give. In a word it is to share in the Divine life. 'I have come,' said Our Lord, 'that they may have life and have it more abundantly.
'Behold the King is coming' 'God became man, that man might become God' said the Fathers of the Church. It involves deification. For this reason God speaks to us and for this reason we are told throughout the Bible to listen, 'Hearken' Listen' is the first word in St Benedict's Rule. Christ is the Word of God, He has to be listened to, and listening, said the Cistercian Adam of Perseigne requires Silence.
Some years ago a former novice master of the Monastery of Gethsemani was giving talks to the formators of the Region in Roscrea. He told us that some of the seniors of that monastery complained to him that the novices were not keeping silence. "Why don’t you tell them to shut up". He replied very perceptively: 'Silence begins when you realise that someone else. is speaking.' St. Benedict’s Chaper in his Rule 'On Silence ",'could equally be .headed "On Listening' because that is what Silence is all about.
Christ's Incarnation occured at a precise moment in history. His birth at Bethlehem can never be repeated but the fruits of that coming will go on for eternity. Blessed Guerric in his Advent Sermons says that there are three comings of Christ.
The first at Bethlehem was' hidden and lowly, the last coming of Christ, at the end of time, will be public and glorious. Between these two comings there is another one which is certainly hidden but no less wonderful. It is a' spiritual experience of quiet admiration. Guerric says that Christ shows himself as wonderful and loveable.
The first at Bethlehem was' hidden and lowly, the last coming of Christ, at the end of time, will be public and glorious. Between these two comings there is another one which is certainly hidden but no less wonderful. It is a' spiritual experience of quiet admiration. Guerric says that Christ shows himself as wonderful and loveable.
What sort of reception can contemplative communities give to the God who comes to meet us of which St.Benedict speaks in his Rule? What sort of experience is on offer?
No two people pray in quite the same way but the Orthodox Monk and Bishop, Kallistos Ware, who visited Nunraw a good many years ago; describes an experience which may be familiar to many.
He says in his book 'The Orthodox Way: 'We should distinguish between 'experience' and 'experiences'. Some people may have a crisis experience such as St. Paul had at his conversion; something sensational. This type of experience seems to be described in St.Bernard's writings and elsewhere but there are many others, writes Bishop Kallistos, who have not had this but can affirm that throughout their lives as a whale there has been an experience of the living God. Where would their life have been if they had only known about God without in some measure experiencing his peace, his love and his joy.
He says in his book 'The Orthodox Way: 'We should distinguish between 'experience' and 'experiences'. Some people may have a crisis experience such as St. Paul had at his conversion; something sensational. This type of experience seems to be described in St.Bernard's writings and elsewhere but there are many others, writes Bishop Kallistos, who have not had this but can affirm that throughout their lives as a whale there has been an experience of the living God. Where would their life have been if they had only known about God without in some measure experiencing his peace, his love and his joy.
This seems to be a good description of the awareness of the presence of God which st. Benedict expects in his Rule.
A tuning in to a presence which is always there, an habitual awareness, like a young man in love will always be conscious of his fiancée. God is always' looking for a. response, wanting to share his peace, joy and love – to support at difficult moment s.
A tuning in to a presence which is always there, an habitual awareness, like a young man in love will always be conscious of his fiancée. God is always' looking for a. response, wanting to share his peace, joy and love – to support at difficult moment s.
Every Christian is called not just to know about God, but to know God. As Blessed Guerric says this is an ongoing process: he states ‘at every stage we meet the Lord and at each stage we see: him-vas a much greater figure than we met before',
'Behold the King is coming let us go to meet Our Saviour.'
Stained glass window at the Melkite Catholic Annunciation Cathedral in Roslindale, Massachusetts depicting Christ the King with the regalia of a Byzantine emperor. January 2009 photo by John Stephen Dwyer
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