This reflection is based upon 2 Peter 3:8-14 -- the second reading at Catholic Mass on the Second Sunday of Advent.
2 Peter 3:8-14
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting youselves in holiness and devotion waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
I love the popular scene in the movie Elf when Buddy the Elf is testing all of the jack in the boxes to see that they’re functioning properly. He turns the handle of the box while the famous nursery rhyme, Pop Goes the Weasel, plays and at the end of the tune, Jack, the clown pops up out of the box. Buddy reacts to it as if he didn’t know it was going to happen, and he marks on the North Pole paperwork that it functions properly. The second box that he tests, the same thing happens. However, the third time that he tests the box, the clown does not pop up. He goes to mark this one as broken on the paperwork and BAM the clown pops up and Buddy the Elf reacts more expressively than the two times before. He was not readily prepared for that to happen at all.
Buddy was not really ready in general to hop into this task of testing the Jack in the Boxes. It was more of a punishment job after he did not hit the quota of creating Etch A Sketches in the actual elf workshop. He was not prepared and he was not ready for this task. If he did prepare, he probably would’ve still reacted with alarm when Jack popped out of the box, but maybe he would’ve received it more readily because he would have joyfully anticipated that it was coming.
In 2 Peter 3:8-14, we hear that the coming of the Lord is also loud and unexpected. It will come quickly “like a thief,” it will be filled with a “mighty roar,” and the heat and brightness of fire will consume everything. And yet, we are called to hasten ourselves for the coming of the Lord by being holy and devoted to God. We will most likely be caught off guard at the coming of the Lord, but perhaps by preparing ourselves, by being steadfast, holy, spotless and blemish free, we will be more ready, more open to receiving the Lord.
I am going to take a wild guess that Christmas Day after this season of Advent will not be filled with fire and a mighty roar when Jesus is laid in the Nativity set at your home church. Yet, we must reflect on these questions: how are we readying ourselves for that day? Will we be ready to receive him?
While becoming ready for the coming of Christ during this waiting season of Advent, perhaps we Catholics can take a trip to Reconciliation where the graces of the sacrament enable us to be set free from sin and empowered to move forward in holiness and communion with the Lord. Maybe this season can entail actually leaning into the busyness and noise of Church life in the Advent season. Perhaps attending the many reflection series, prayer services or choir concerts that your town or diocese provides leading up to Christmas or signing up to buy a gift for the gift drives that parishes or organizations often run.
There is goodness and joy to be found in waiting for Jesus to come. There are moments and opportunities where we can truly be holy and devoted to God. And even when Christmas comes up quickly, (as it always does & causes a jump scare in our hearts) at least we have taken the time to spiritually ready ourselves and open our hearts to the Lord who is anticipated to come.
In Peace, Katy
{You can listen to this reflection on the BeLoved Revealed Podcast found on Spotify and all other streaming platforms.}
Comments