Homily: December 8, 2024 Second Sunday of Advent (Mother)

"Up, Jerusalem! Stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One."

This phrase struck me very much, it is simple, relatable, assuring, and very comforting. It describes a beautiful relationship between the Church and God’s people.

Today’s first reading is from the Book of Baruch. It is a small book, and the second Sunday of Advent is possibly the only time in the liturgical year when we take a reading from this book. Easter Vigil would also have a reading taken from this book, but Easter Vigil readings are often skipped in favor of the Easter Sunday readings.

Baruch was a companion of prophet Jeremiah. He wrote this book during the later part of the Babylonian exile. The Israelites were living in exile, they knew they had offended God, and they were feeling punished, abandoned, and forgotten by God, but Baruch had a different message for them.

Baruch describes Jerusalem as a loving mother, a mother who has not forgotten her children. Her children are scattered around the world, away from her, and she longs and yearns for their return. The prophet then tells her to look to the east; there she sees all her children coming from the east and west of the world, gathering as one. It’s a reference to God, an assuring picture of God fulfilling His promise to bring His people back. They are not forgotten. They are loved.

This reminds me of my own childhood. Going to school, my siblings and I had to travel two miles, walking on foot. From the time I was in kindergarten, it was two miles to school walking through muddy village roads, and two miles back home, which became even harder during the monsoon season; it could also be dangerous. 

On days when we were delayed in reaching home, I would see my mummy standing in front of our house, keeping a close watch towards the road, eager to see all her children, anxiously waiting for us to come home.

A mother waiting for her children to return is a powerful image. The emotions are intense, it is both hopeful worry and loving longing. Jerusalem, like a mother, had waited 5 decades for her children, the Israelites, to return from exile. And the prophecy here is that all her children will return, from wherever they had been, back to the one place they truly belong.

This image also made me think of our own parish of St. Ambrose, the “mother church” of the Diocese of Des Moines. Over the years, many children have come from the east and the west, from all corners of the world and settling in this parish making this their home, embracing this as their mother. For decades, St. Ambrose has been a place of refuge, a protector, a provider especially for those seeking peace, safety, and love.

How does our parish do it? How does this parish be a mother to the children who come to her with all their needs?

Just recently, under the leadership of our St. Vincent de Paul Society, our parishioners came together and packed Thanksgiving gifts for about 50 of our refugee families. Then some parishioners wanted to do more; they asked if they could adopt a refugee family to give them support in their daily needs throughout the years ahead. That is generosity, yes, but to me, it is more, it is sacrificing what they have for the good of another family, it is taking care of another family as their own. It is love, motherly love.

Our parish is a mother because our parishioners together do what a loving mother would do – sacrifice, give, share, and love. Together, we are church. Together, we mother each other.

So on this second Sunday of Advent, as we continue to prepare to receive Jesus and commemorate His first coming, as we prepare ourselves to meet Jesus at the end of our lives, and as we prepare our souls to be ready for His second coming, we learn how to be church to one another, by yearning for the return of all of her children and do our part to welcome, accept, and embrace everyone who comes through our doors.

John the Baptist calls all of us to make straight the paths, fill in the valleys, and lower the hills, to make it easier for Jesus to reach us, and for everyone to find Jesus.

Let us continue to be forerunners for Christ, like John the Baptist. Whether it’s through acts of kindness, prayers, or simply inviting someone to join us for Mass, for our family meals, for our Christmas celebrations, we are leading others to Jesus, we are on the way to fulfilling God’s vision of gathering all of Jerusalem’s children, from the east and the west.

Remember our BAG for this Advent – Believe, Act and Grow.

Believe in God’s beautiful vision for His people, Act in faith as God has called us to, and Grow in love as God wills.

Together, let’s stand on the heights of God’s vision, see His promises come true and rejoice in His faithfulness.

Amen.