2nd
Sunday of Advent
Cycle B
December 7, 2014 7:30
and 9:00 am
Saint Margaret Parish, Bel Air
Geocentric to
Heliocentric
About
1900 years ago, in the year 130, the Greek astronomer Ptolemy proposed the
geocentric theory of the universe.
Ptolemy
argued that the earth is the center of all celestial bodies. He held that the sun, the planets and the
stars all revolve around the earth.
Ptolemy’s
theory dominated for almost 1500 years. And
then, two people – Copernicus and Galileo – promoted a different theory.
They proposed
the heliocentric theory. Copernicus and
Galileo developed convincing proofs that the sun is the center of the solar
system with the earth, the other planets, and the stars revolving around it.
Well, today
we accept this as a basic scientific fact.
But, in its day, this was a revolutionary shift.
Galileo
especially met with lots of opposition, even accusations of heresy and suppression
by the Church. People did not want to
accept the idea that our earth was not the center it all.
Me to Jesus
John
the Baptist in today’s gospel calls for a similar shift in viewpoint that
Copernicus and Galileo called for.
John
says, “One mightier than I is coming
after me.” John is rather popular, a
self-assured person, probably with a good sense of self-esteem.
But the
Baptist realizes that he is not the center of it all. He sees Jesus as the center and he is telling
us to see things this way too.
Struggle with This
This is important
for us, but it is challenging.
In a certain way,
we human beings are born with a worldview like Ptolemy’s. As babies and children, everything revolves
around us.
Eventually we
mature and learn that others are just as important as we are. But still, even after we come to know this in
our minds, we can slip back into a self-oriented mode.
We can slip back
into living only for my needs, my wants, and my future. Maybe our culture’s emphasis on each of us having
everything our own way contributes to this.
Advent calls us to
the worldview of John the Baptist. The
idea is that the central focus of our life, the point around which we are to
revolve is Jesus – “the One who is
mightier than I.”
Revolving Around Jesus
Practically, what
might this mean for us?
The beautiful,
poetic images of Isaiah in today’s first reading really help with this. Isaiah wants us to get ready for the One who
is greater than we are.
So, Isaiah says, “Every valley shall be filled in.” We need to fill in the valley of inner
emptiness by making space for an inner relationship with God.
This is
fundamental and we are to do this by coming to Mass and receiving the
Eucharist, and also by privately reading Scripture or praying to God in our own
words or in some learned prayer. We need
to fill in this valley.
Isaiah says, “Every mountain shall be made low.” We are to level the mountain of busyness and of
feeling driven to do so many things.
Often this ends up
distancing us from others, even those for whom we are doing all of this. We need to level this mountain.
And Isaiah says, “The rugged land shall be made smooth.” We are to live out of our commitment to one
another when things get rugged, especially in our marriage or family and even
in friendships.
We are to be
willing to work through troubles with patience, respect, and maybe even with
the assistance of a third party. We need
to smoothe this rugged land.
Conclusion
So, John the Baptist calls us to a major shift.
Jesus – “the One mightier than I”
– he is to be the center of it all. Not
me!
One of our Catholic theologians says that only when we make this shift are
we really spiritual people. Only when we
do this are we on the road to spiritual maturity and will we be ready to greet someday
the “One who is mightier.”
