by Fr. Tommy Lane
“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is how Mark begins his account of Jesus (Mark 1:1; “Gospel” in NABRE and “Good News” in NJB). He describes his account of Jesus as a Gospel, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” That word “Gospel,” (literally “good message”), was not invented by Mark or the other three evangelists. The term “Gospel” was already in existence but had a different meaning before the Gospels were written. It referred to the good news of a victory and, strangely to our ears, it was used when referring to worship of the Roman Emperor. So, Mark and the other New Testament writers took the expression “good news” and gave it a new application. Now “Good News” refers to Jesus. Mark and the other New Testament writers brought a secular expression, so to speak, under the umbrella of Jesus.
I think that change in the use of the term “Good News” is helpful for understanding Advent. Is there anything in our lives that is not under Jesus that we can bring under Jesus during Advent? The first verse of one of our Advent Hymns is
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom
captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son
of God appear.
It describes us as “captive Israel” and says we are in “exile.” How might we be captive or in exile? Pope Francis commenting on the message of comfort in our first reading and those who need that comforting message, said,
I am thinking of those who are burdened by suffering, injustice, and tyranny; of those who are slaves to money, to power, to success, to worldliness…They have fabricated consolation, not the true comfort of the Lord! (Angelus Address 2014)
There are many other burdens we could add to that list by Pope Francis, for example, those burdened by alcoholism or addictions of various kinds, or many other kinds of sufferings such as the disturbing references we heard in the media about violence within families during lockdown (2020). All these suffering people are the “captive Israel” and are in the “exile” in the hymn, O come, O come Emmanuel.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom
captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son
of God appear
Advent is looking forward to our exit from captivity and exile to freedom in Jesus. “Good News” did not originally refer to Jesus, but the New Testament writers brought it under Jesus. During Advent, can we bring our entire lives, with whatever suffering we might have, under Jesus? Turning our lives over to Jesus changes them.
Life is much better with Jesus than without Jesus. This can be seen in what John the Baptist said about baptism at the end of our Gospel passage today. He said he was only baptizing people with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). John’s Baptism was a sign of repentance, but it did not bring about any change in those who received it. On the other hand, when baptized with the baptism given to us by Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit. The baptism we have received changed the quality of our souls forever which is why we receive baptism only once. Baptism put a mark or a seal on us. The same happens during two other sacraments, Confirmation and Holy Orders (Ordination). When you were confirmed, as the bishop anointed you with the oil of chrism, he said, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Because that seal of the Holy Spirit given to us in those three sacraments is forever, we receive them only once.
Life is much better with Jesus than without Jesus. Our baptism was not just pouring water like that of John the Baptist, but it changed us. Just as the term “Good News” was transferred from something secular to refer to the message of Jesus, can we also transfer everything in our lives under Jesus? The first reading refers to the journey of those returning to Jerusalem from exile. In the Gospel, we heard that the whole of Judea and Jerusalem were going to John the Baptist. During Advent, can we go on a journey to Jesus and bring everything in our lives under the good news of Jesus? Can we open our hearts to Jesus ever more in prayer this Advent by praying to the Lord every day? Because of our various sufferings we are “captive Israel” and in “exile.” We need Jesus. Can we bring all our lives under Jesus this Advent so that Christmas will really be something holy to celebrate?
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom
captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son
of God appear.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2020
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the Second Sunday of Advent Year B
Jesus is the answer 2023
Longing for God 2017
Prepare the way of the Lord: Christ will come again 2008
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