A sermon for Advent Luke, 21:25-36

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

A psychology professor walked into his classroom holding a glass of water with his arm straightened out to the side.

He asked his students, “How heavy is this glass of water?”

The students started to shout out their guesses.

The professor replied, “The absolute weight of this glass isn’t what matters while I’m holding it. Rather, it’s the amount of time that I hold onto it.”

“If I hold it for two minutes, it doesn’t feel heavy. If I hold it for an hour, it will feel very heavy as my muscles begin to tire.

"If I hold it for an entire day, that glass will feel so painfully heavy that all I will think about is the pain. 

“In all of these cases, the actual weight of the glass will remain the same, but the glass of water will burden my life the longer I hold on to it.”

“This glass of water represents your worries and anxieties. The longer you carry them, the more they will hurt you until you let them go."

Jesus says, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life." (Luke 21:34.)

I think Jesus referring to drinking booze and jumping from one party to another has a deeper meaning. Jesus means avoid anything that burdens or dulls (makes drowsy) your relationship with God. Holding onto worry and anxiety is drunkenness to the soul. They dull God's Spirit in your soul and weaken your trust in God. The longer you hold onto them the greater burden they become. 

God warns there are three other things that damage your relationship with Him in 1 John 2:16, "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world." 

Many see Advent as a time to wait for the Christmas celebrations. The parties, the drinking, the food, the presents. This is the world's view of Advent, which is opposite of what God wants you to do. 

Advent is not a waiting, but a coming. Jesus is coming back. He said in Rev. 22:12, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."

So, what should you do to prepare for this coming which is so awesome the very "powers of heaven will be shaken"?

1. Let go of the anxieties of daily life. Hold on to faith, not fear. A wise man once said when facing tribulations, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and pray like mad."

God says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7.)

2. Replace a craving for your own physical pleasure and everything that looks pleasing to you by doing what the Word of God recommends: "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well." (James 2:8.) 

God says, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:16.)

3. Live the five values Jesus taught: love, compassion, forgiveness, humility and integrity. These are not a set rules, but a way of life. When the day comes you meet Jesus (and that day will be here soon), He will judge you on how well you lived them.

Marjorie Holmes wrote, "At Christmas, all roads lead home." 

Clear a road for Jesus this Advent to make His home in you. Blessings.