First Sunday of Advent (Cycle C, Year I)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ prepare with vigilance and rejoicing for His coming.
Theme: We prepare for the coming of Christ when we do what is right and just.
Promise: “Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.” (Ps 25: 8 – 9)
Reflection:
In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah prophesies the fulfillment of God’s promise to the people of Israel and Judah – “In those days and at that time, I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line. He will do what is right and just in the land.”
There will be a new beginning with someone greater than David. “This is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord, our righteous Savior’.”
In the second reading, writing to the Thessalonians, St Paul prays: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you… may He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones,” (1 Thes 3:12 – 13). In other words, he was exhorting them – and us – to grow in love for one another, so that we may be strengthened for the day of Christ’s coming (whether to demand our life back or at the end of time) that, being so attuned to Him and immersed in Him, we will be found worthy of eternal life.
The words of Jesus at the start of Luke’s gospel are not meant to instill fear. Rather, they are meant to assure us that no matter what difficulties we face or encounter in life, God is in control. In the end, Jesus will come in power and glory and all will be well for those who are faithful.
Advent signals a new beginning, a chance for a fresh start in our physical life and in our spiritual life. As we open a new liturgical year, we are reminded that we should not lose sight of the bigger picture of our faith, especially spiritual realities. We should not allow the smaller view of our present concerns and difficulties to blind us to the many blessings, grace and joys we receive that far outweigh our disappointments.
God’s promises are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. In Jeremiah’s time, things were disheartening for the people of Judah. They saw a string of failures except for the reign of King David, whom they loved, but whose time was over and long past. David’s line and days of greatness were gone, and God’s promises were also in the past and today and the now seemed unreal. Like Jeremiah, Paul addresses his exhortation to a people who were going through a difficult period of persecution and conflict, so he encourages them to abound in love that they may find the strength to endure, for the Lord, he assures them “is with us”.
Our world today is worlds apart from that in which Jeremiah and St Paul were writing. Technology has brought changes undreamed of in the past. We need to find new ways of relating to others, of showing faith, strengthening family bonds, bonds of friendship and community, and more importantly, to do what is right and just.
Advent should be a quiet, gentle time, yet the gospel describes global anguish and the end of the world. What Jesus is saying is that, when everything seems to have collapsed, people will see the Son of Man coming with great power and glory. Before the new world comes, the old has to be cleared away – “when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your head because your ransom, your redemption is near at hand,” (Lk 21:28). Advent is not just a time to wait for Christmas, but a time to prepare for the coming of Christ into our life with new power. It is a time, not only for traditional Christmas celebrations, but for decisions to recommit our life to God, to make time to respond to those deep stirrings of the soul to Christ’s grace that we may to grow with whatever has changed in our life.
To apply the words of the gospel to our circumstances, this Advent, when we hear God’s whispered call to forgive, to pray, to renew the commitments we have made, we should look up, lift our head because those are the inspirations inviting us to deeper life, deeper truth, deeper love that can ours. When these things begin to happen for us, the Son of David and the King of Glory, is ready to come to be in our life. We may have to clear away debris – questionable behavior – that obstructs the way. Great moments of grace are not lost in the past, but a stronger life of grace, a new life and brighter new future is possible for us. Advent reminds us that what is at hand for the watchful and prayerful follower of Christ is not disaster but redemption, a new day and new life in Christ not just for the world but for each of us in the BLD community. “They will stand up straight and raise their heads…”
Such is the glorious destiny awaiting us if we accept the thousand small opportunities offered by our family, neighbors, workmates, brothers and sisters in Christ to overcome our inborn selfishness and stretch our hearts to include those around us.
Prayer
Father in heaven, give us the strength to grow in love so that the dawn of Christ’s coming may find us constantly aware and rejoicing in His presence. Lord, make me overflow with love for one another and for all. Amen
Reflection Questions:
1. What is our purpose in life? What does it say about you?
2. Why is growing in love or becoming a loving person important?
3. How does the way of Jesus inspire you to do, not only what is right, but what is good?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
December 2, 2012 (Sun) Jer 33:14-16/ Ps 25:4,5,8,9,10,14/ 1 Thes 3:12-4:2/ Lk 21:25-
28,34-36
December 3, 2012 (Mon) Is 2:1-5/ Ps 122:1-9/ Mt 8:5-11
December 4, 2012 (Tues) Is 11:1-10/ Ps 72:1,2,7,8,12,12,17/ Lk 10:21-24
December 5, 2012 (Wed) Is 25:6,10/ Ps 23:1-6/ Mt 15:29-37
December 6, 2012 (Thur) Rv Is 26:1-6/ Ps 118:1,8,9,19-21,25-27/ Mt 7:21,24-27
December 7, 2012 (Fri) Is 29:17-24/ Ps 27:1,4,13-14/ Mt 9:27-31
December 8, 2012 (Sat) Gen 3:9-15,20/ Ps 98:1-4/ Eph 1:3-6/ Lk 1:26-38
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
