Readings: Isaiah 2:1–5; Psalm 122, Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 24:37–44
While I was in church on Sunday, I was struck by the call for transformation that permeated the readings for today. This, of course, may have been influenced by my having taught the section of Augustine’s Confessions on his conversion in the garden only a few weeks ago. For anyone who is not already familiar with the story, Augustine—by Book VIII of the Confessions—is struggling with his (lack of) conversion. He feels like he knows what he needs to do to be a Christian, but he just cannot give up his sinful ways, especially his lust and ambition. While weeping and calling out to God in a garden behind his house, he hears a child’s voice chanting, “Pick it up and read.” Interpreting this as a divine message, he opens the book of Paul’s letters and his gaze falls upon the end of today’s second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:13–14). At that moment, Augustine experiences God’s grace and is completely transformed. He no longer has the desires for lust and ambition that he had been struggling with moments before; rather, he is completely converted to God (see Augustine, Confessions, VIII.12.28–30).
Obviously, Augustine’s experience is an exceptional experience, but I think this world needs some conversion and repentance as we go through Advent. Today’s first reading from Isaiah expresses God’s vision for peace in the world, where people “shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again” (Isaiah 2:4). We are, today, so far from that world of peace. The conflicts between Israel and Hamas, and Russia and Ukraine are not the only conflicts going on in the world today. Even within our own country we are constantly in a state of “rivalry and jealousy” caused by the extreme state of partisanship. I read something recently (and unfortunately I don’t remember where, so I cannot link it) that talked about how political affiliation has take the place of religion in many people’s lives—this is not a good state for getting along with others. Christians should not have Republican or Democrat as their primary identity—we should, instead, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” and live our lives accordingly (Romans 13:14).
Thus, I suggest that this Advent, we work on our personal transformation—relying for this not just on ourselves, or even our political leaders, but by turning to God in prayer. Perhaps our transformation won’t be as dramatic as Augustine’s, but by practicing our transformation, perhaps we can open ourselves to the grace for a more dramatic change. I’m thinking here about Blaise Pascal’s advice in the wager—he suggests that one should act as if they believe, by “taking holy water, having masses said, and so on” because this “will make you more docile” (Pascal, Pensées, fr. 418). We need to be open to being taught, especially since Isaiah’s peace is rooted in all the nations coming to God “that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3). What can you do during this Advent season to perhaps not get so absorbed in the consumerism of it all and instead “throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12)?
We should be living our lives with Christ as our example which, at its most basic, means treating every single person as someone with dignity, and especially those who are most in need (see Matthew 25:31–46) and those we might (at least now) consider our enemies (see Matthew 5:43–48). I would highlight here the USCCB’s recent statement on immigration, which states, “Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. … Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together.” We should take some time this Advent to reflect on how we—both as individuals and as a nation—are following the model of Christ and where we can do better.
We must do this; we must transform. Remember: “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24:44).
Image: “The Kiss of Peace and Justice” by Laurent de La Hyre, 1654
Leave a Reply