Yogi Berra, former catcher for the New York Yankees, was known as the Master of Malapropisms. Frequently mistaking one word for another, Yogi, when asked about what the last World Series Championship was like, replied: “It was déjà vu all over again.”
The French term, “déjà vu” implies something already seen. “All over again” creates redundancy. Fortunately, the humor remains. Two other notable observations by Yogi come to mind: “You can observe a lot by just watching.” and “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” The more I think about all three of Yogi’s malapropisms, the more I find applications to Advent.
The Latin term “Adventus” is the equivalent of the Greek term “Parousia.” Both terms imply a process of anticipation marked by watchful waiting and significant preparation. The term “parousia” was adapted by the early Christian community to signify the Second Coming of Christ. In our second reading for this First Sunday of Advent, St. Paul in his letter to the Romans (13:11-14) was convinced that the Second Coming of Christ’s return would occur during his lifetime.
“It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep, for salvation is nearer now than when we first believed, the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us conduct ourselves properly.”
To be fair, Paul’s calculation of time was emerging out of his assurance of faith in the promise of Jesus the Christ’s return and not from some calendar or astrological timeclock. Even when it became apparent in the early communities that the “Parousia” was not taking place any time soon, the underlying faith remained steady. The invitation of Paul was to prepare in such a way that the community would be of one mind and one heart and always striving for harmony: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” Regardless of the immediacy and intensity of Paul’s thinking, the gathering of Jews and Gentiles alike into the community foreshadowed the preparation of the Second Coming. The implication, of course, was that the Kingdom of God would include all those who had been excluded or estranged from the community.
The gospel of Matthew (24:37-44) heightens the urgency of the expectation of the end time and the Second Coming. While the call for constant watchfulness parallels Paul’s advice to his communities, Jesus ramps up the warnings and timetables regarding His return (Parousia) at a time we least expect. Whether it is immediate or far away, the Day of Judgment will rush upon us like the great flood in the days of Noah:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”
Getting the attention of his disciples using apocalyptical imagery, Jesus presented them and us with an eschatological truth: Be Prepared! In the use of a popular parable, that of “the thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelations 3:3), Jesus lays it on the line:
“If the master of the house had known the hour of the night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be robbed.”
The gospel of Mark (13:33-37) and the gospel of Luke (19:12-13) reiterate these themes of urgency, essentially warning us to snap out of our lethargy and get our acts together. Being resolute and prepared for the end time is an invitation that, “Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:12)
The theme of light is captured in both the first reading from Isaiah 2:1-5 (“O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light.”) and Paul’s letter to the Romans 13:11-14 (“Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”). The implication of the Advent wreath with its four candles symbolically dispels the darkness and fears of our world as we search for the light of Christ.
The juxtaposition of light and darkness, day and night, sleeping and wakefulness reminds us of the contrasting tensions of life and the need for patience and perseverance as we search for a faith that helps us to hold steady in our search for the Kingdom to come. Light offers us an invitation to transparency not only in our personal lives, but in our religious, political and business lives as well. Recognizing that the integrity and truthfulness of our lives and our institutions becomes a paramount goal in preparing ourselves for the Parousia. Paul’s advice to the Romans: “Throwing off the works of darkness, we must conduct ourselves properly as in the light and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The duality of Advent prepares us for the birth of Jesus and the Second Coming. The intertwining of these events creates the beginning and ending of the redemptive process. Redemption is knocking at our door with the celebration of the Incarnation and breathing down our necks with the finality of the Second Coming. Like “finding a fork in the road” we must figure out the perceived divergence and understand that both directions lead to salvation. It’s true that “you can observe a lot by just watching” and, most certainly, during this time of Advent we are invited to observe and watch for the signs of birth, death, resurrection and salvation.
Opening our hearts and minds to the celebration of the birth of Jesus into the world once again is an invitation to rediscovering peace in our world. While this whole Advent adventure could be perceived as “déjà vu all over again,” I am committed to believing that we do not know the day nor the hour when we will be sprung from the prison of our fears, doubts, boredom, indifference and awaken to the advent of the Kingdom of God.
Are you up for the adventure once again? Indeed, as repetitive as it might sound, life is short, so stay awake for it!
Fr. Joseph Gillespie, OP
Senior Associate