Advent and the Week of Witness

As we approach the end of the Week of Witness and begin Advent, Fr. Billy offers his reflection on the ending of Covid restrictions ahead of Christmas, the complacency of western Christians and on the faith of the Persecuted Church.

By Fr. Billy Swan

Christ the Redeemer during the Red Wednesday 2020. (Credit: Today Soluções)

Homily for the the First Sunday of Advent

Dear friends. I am delighted to say that public worship will resume here at the Cathedral from this Tuesday 1st December. It will be a great joy to see you all again, gathered once more in this house of prayer and to celebrate the Eucharist together as a parish family. Over the past six weeks, I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked the question ‘will there be Mass for Christmas?’ It is a question asked by many who don’t even participate in Mass very often. So what is going on here? Could it be that we did not value the Mass enough until it was taken away from us? Are we finally waking up to the truth that Christmas is more than the commercial side of things and that there is something more precious for us to re-discover at this time of year? Is not the religious celebration of Christmas this year more important than ever because of what we need most right now, which is hope? 

The Gospel on this first Sunday of Advent can be summed up as a warning for us to avoid complacency. Jesus asks us repeatedly to ‘Stay awake!’ Now in the Gospels, to be asleep is a metaphor for complacency, being distracted and losing focus on what truly matters. We see it in the parable of the ten bridesmaids and in garden of Gethsemane when Peter, James and John fell sleep despite Jesus’ plea for them to ‘watch and pray’. However, Jesus’ warning to avoid complacency is for every time, including our own. It is addressed to all of us because he knows too well that complacency and distraction is all too human but can lead to disaster. 

St John's church Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz during Red Wednesday 2020. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need Germany)

Take for example the abuse scandals in the Church. One of the main reasons, I believe they were not dealt with more urgently and decisively in the past was because of a terrible complacency on the part of Church leaders. Another example is what is unfolding in the way we celebrate sacraments. We want them and celebrate them but then most walk away. If we continue as we are then we too are guilty of this complacency that will lead to parishes dying soon. Will this parish be here in 50 years time? That depends on God but it also depends on us. It will if we want it to be and it will if we wake up and see the treasure that is being offered, the pearl of great price, the one thing necessary. 

One group of Christians who are not complacent are those persecuted for their faith. They are not complacent or asleep for they pay a heavy price for their commitment. Today falls within the ‘Week of Witness’ that remembers and prays for our brothers and sister around the world who practice their faith under the pain of suffering and death. That is why the Cathedral is lit up in red in these days – a visual reminder of the blood of Christians that is being shed every day. 

Basilica of Our Lady in Maastricht during Red Wednesday 2020. (Credit: Ramon Mangold)

In every century, in every time, regimes and dictators have tried to eliminate Christianity by killing Christians. They failed. In fact, in many places, the Church was renewed because of a period of persecution. As Tertullian once wrote: ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’. 

If these evil regimes were clever, they would have realized that a far more effective way to eliminate Christianity is not by persecution but by complacency and indifference. That is why Jesus warns us about complacency, not about persecution. 

Friends, this Christmas will be very different and not as we expected or hoped. But maybe this time is right, now that we can gather again, to make a new beginning. Together let us wake up from taking our religious freedom for granted and wake up from drifting along when it comes to our faith commitment. This Advent is a time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and to intentionally return to the full practice of our faith. Why? Because in the words of Jesus to the woman at the well: ‘If you only knew what God is offering!’ (John 4:10).