Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 To the disciples'
delight the Master said he wanted a new shirt for his birthday. The finest cloth was
bought. The village tailor came in to have the Master measured, and promised, by the
will of God, to make the shirt within a week. A week went by and a disciple was dispatched
to the tailor while the Master excitedly waited for his shirt. The tailor says, "There
has been a slight delay. But, by the will of God, it will be ready by tomorrow."
Next
day the tailor said, "I'm sorry it isn't done. Try again tomorrow and, if God so wills,
it will certainly be ready." The following day the Master said, "Ask him how long
it will take if he keeps God out of it."
Some of us prepare for a journey,
others prepare to deliver a speech and many others who prepare daily for their job,
work and do some assignments to fulfil the expected results. Hence, during this Advent
season we too are requested to prepare for the coming of the Lord. But the things
that really matter are God’s kingdom deep within us. Therefore a preparation would
be really justified in order to invite the Lord into our hearts and to make him the
ruler of our life.
There are three aspects of Jesus’ coming during this Advent
Season. One looks to the past, as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus
in History that took place 2000 years ago. Secondly, we look to the present as we
prepare ourselves to receive him in our daily lives. We accept him in the Word and
in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Finally we look into the future and await his
coming at the end of times in Majesty and glory to redeem the world. Today’s readings
emphasize the coming of the Lord to be among the people. Prophet Jeremiah predicts
the coming of the branch, a reference to the messiah who would save Israel. In the
Gospel Jesus speaks of his own return with signs and wonders. But it is not the signs
that are important but its consequence, namely the redemption that Jesus brings. The
second reading tells us how we have to prepare ourselves to receive the Lord. However,
as we begin the season of Advent we are called upon to prepare our hearts to receive
Jesus at Christmas.
Today the three readings from the Holy Bible prepare us
to be spiritually uplifted according to these three goals of the Season of Advent.
In the First Reading from the Book of Jeremiah, we heard that during the days of the
Old Testament, the Lord God repeated the promises that He had made to Abraham and
to His descendants. To Abraham and his offspring, God had promised to bless them that
they would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.
And they shall conquer their enemies and through their God shall all the nations of
the earth gain blessing. Over and above this, God was now promising that a righteous
Branch would spring up from the descendants of King David, the righteous one executing
justice and righteousness in the land. “I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David
who shall practice honesty and integrity in the land.” The prophet tells the people
that they will have a just king and his policies will bring security to the kingdom
and bring them to the right relationship with God. God was speaking of the spiritual
Kingdom that was promised to Abraham, he who was to become the spiritual father of
all those who live by faith.
The Second Reading from the First Letter to the
Thessalonians gives us sound advice as to how we should prepare ourselves. Paul looks
forward to the final coming of Jesus. It will be a grand entrance into the world together
with all his holy ones. Paul invites all to welcome Jesus into our lives in the here
and now which should take place every day. The reading reminds us that as the Lord
comes to us in this world we should abound in love for one another. Our love should
not be limited to our friends, but also should be for our enemies. This is because
they too are the children of God formed in his image and likeness. The reading also
asks us to be fully prepared with our hearts holy and blameless before our God and
Father. To achieve this goal, we must walk with the sanctifying Holy Spirit who disciplines
us to increase our holiness. This is possible only if we are filled with our living
faith and Faith is our bond with Jesus.
The Gospel of today speaks in special
terms of the end of the world and what we refer to as the Second Coming of Jesus at
the end of time. The entire chapter focuses on the events that will accompany the
final ends of the world. These signs will be cosmic in nature. “And then they will
see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” This reminds us
that our life in this world is a kind of journey or pilgrimage. It is within this
context of this final end that the Gospel proclaims the final coming of the son of
man. Some happenings have already taken place and there is nothing we can do to change
them now. However, they have their influence in shaping our present situation. The
Gospel of today tells us that there will be time for mission before the end, but in
this interim period will also involve intense persecution and the fall of Jerusalem.
Only then does Jesus relate the cosmic signs that precede the Son of Man’s return,
when he comes on the clouds in the splendour. Jesus says that awareness of these signs
will allow one to know when these key moments of divine history are near.
Jesus
further explains to the listeners that day of the Lord will come on them suddenly
like a trap; for this day will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth.
But he asks them to keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that they may
have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place and to stand
before the Son of Man. He wants them to be people of knowledge and understanding about
the things of the last days. He wants them to know his word and what the Spirit is
doing. And he wants them to bring hope, confidence, and the love of Christ to others.
These words of Jesus are applicable to us even today.
The Gospel teaches that
beyond the end of times stands the Lord who has come among us in the person of Jesus
who will come as a judge. Since this will be the time of judgment, the Gospel calls
for repentance and service. Thus it is a time of urgency and hence there is little
time for complacency. Those whose lives are under the Lordship of Jesus can live
with expectantly, awaiting the Lord’s coming. Luke argues against the attitude of
slowing down because there is plenty of time before the Lord comes. He tells them
that they have to be prepared at all times since we don’t know when the Lord will
be with us again. Then the end times will hold no terror for those who know what God’s
love is and they know how to live in his love.
Luke places before us the warning
of Jesus to be ready and not to be bloated with pleasure of this world. Living during
the Roman times meant corruption, immorality, hedonism, gluttony and cruelty. It
was the time of degradation of civilization. What Jesus tells us today is that we
have to watch and wait for him. There will be some anxiety surely, and there will
be eagerness to wait for some one we love. There will be the expectancy and hope
as the saviour will surely come to us. And yet, the Gospel says the reaction of the
Christian disciple should not be one of fear. “When these things namely the signs
begin to take place, we have to stand erect, hold our heads high, because our liberation
is near at hand.” It all depends on one’s priorities and attachments.
Jesus
stated that all the signs mentioned during today’s Gospel Reading were to be fulfilled
before the passing away of the generation that lived in His days. All the tasks we
humans embrace have an ending. Jesus calls us all to be on our guard so our hearts
are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life,
so the day of the Lord will not catch us unexpectedly, unprepared. No one knows when
the end will come. We should be prepared at all times. Therefore during the coming
days let us embrace a spiritual attitude so the Season of Advent may become something
special for us. May Advent be a true moment of preparation for the coming of Jesus
at Christmas, at death, or at the last coming of the Lord, which ever may come first.
Our prayers are that each and every one of us as we personally strive to achieve this
holy objective for the glory of God.