REFLECTIONS TODAY
Advent (from Latin adventus, “coming”) reminds us of three great “arrivals.” The first is the coming of Christ with his birth in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. The second is the coming of Christ at the end of time which we call the Parousia (“coming” or “presence”). The third is his coming in the present, in our day-to-day life. The readings of this Sunday give special attention to the coming of Christ at the end of time and how this impacts our everyday lives.
Luke clothes the Parousia with apocalyptic imagery: the fall of the “old order” in the cosmos and human history which will be replaced by the creation of the new order. The destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, foretold by Jesus, is fresh in the memory of the Christians as well as of the Jews. The cataclysm and the suffering that followed it point to the suffering of believers at that time (some Jewish Christians perished with the Jews in the revolt against Rome in AD 66-70, while others were branded as traitors for not joining the revolt) and in the future ages. Instead of dread and fear, Luke invites his readers to “stand erect and raise [their] heads” (v 28), for these signs are a prelude to the final redemption and salvation with the coming of Jesus Christ, the glorious “Son of Man” (v 27), with power and glory. The title points to “One like a son of man” in the book of Daniel who received dominion, splendor, and kingship from God, the “Ancient of Days” (7:13-14).
On the other hand, Jeremiah points to the glorious future of Jerusalem, the city condemned because of the injustice, violence, and idolatry, especially on the part of its rulers and priests. Still, the Lord does not abandon his people; he will make a “new covenant” with them. With the law of God written in their hearts, they will cease to be a rebellious people (Jer 31:31-33). Moreover, they will be ruled by a descendant of David. The New Testament will speak of Jesus as the “son” or “shoot” of David (Lk 18:38; Rv 22:16). True peace will come with the coming of Jesus who will establish the “New Covenant” with his blood (1 Cor 11:25).
St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians that waiting and being ready for the coming of Christ involves conducting themselves in holiness and in increasing and abounding in love for one another. Advent is the time to wake from sleep, to shake away drowsiness due to a life of dissipation. Elsewhere, he writes to another Christian community: “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy” (Rom 13:11-13).
God is a God of surprises; he can come at any moment of life. The very life, the very conduct we are caught up at the time of his coming or in death, will be the definitive way in which we will be judged. Therefore, attend to your WATCH (words, actions, thoughts, character, and heart).
First Reading • Jer 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The Lord our justice.”
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 25
“To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.”
Second Reading • 1 Thes 3:12—4:2
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God—and as you are conducting yourselves—you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Gospel • Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”