The whole of Christendom celebrates the Advent season beginning today until eve of Christmas. This is a four-week period of active waiting and preparation for the coming of the Lord. On the first two weeks of Advent, we will meditate on God’s coming in glory on Judgment day. On the other two weeks we will focus on the actual coming or birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and how this event continues to impact our life today.
The first Sunday of Advent marks the start of a new cycle (Year C) in the Church calendar. Simply put, it means that the Church as People of God will meditate with new eyes and fresh hope on a new set of readings. Our evangelist for this new cycle is Saint Luke, “our dear and glorious physician” who was also Saint Paul’s constant companion. Luke, having been exposed to the maladies and illnesses of sick people, is said to be sensitive to the plight of those who suffer like women and children.
At a quick glance, today’s Gospel reading seems to be rather odd and disconcerting. It speaks of strange movements in the galaxy, cataclysm and catastrophe on earth and in the sea. The reading seems to depict doom and destruction rather than presage a new beginning. Luke uses apocalyptic signs and symbolism oftentimes difficult to understand, to reveal a truth about something. Here, Luke emphasizes that the definitive coming of the Son of Man will be accompanied by a great upheaval. The sinful way of doing things must therefore coase, and people must be prepared to see the light and glory of God’s Anointed One.
The Gospel reading, after all, speaks about redemption rather than doom. Towards this, Jesus calls upon us to abandon coarseness of life that leads to overindulgence and undue anxiety regarding the future. He counsels us towards vigilance, waiting for the day of the Lord by actively heeding his voice and doing his will. “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Saint Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians, exhorts us to a recording of our lives, to be blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the instructions he has already given to the Church.
Jeremiah has seen dark days. He was put behind bars because of his prophesying. The former glory of the house of David is shamefully reduced to utter bareness and insignificance like a stump of a tree. Rather than sulk at the dismal turn of present events, Jeremiah proclaims the glory and the light of God’s Anointed One. He will be called The Lord our Justice and he will do what is right and just in land. Jeremiah be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.
May this Advent season spur us to a renewed relationship with God and with our neighbors. In moments of hopelessness, when we feel lost and all we see around is death, doom, and despair, let us remember Jeremiah. In the dark dungeon, he stood erect and raised his head and saw with the eyes of faith the coming of the Messiah, the faithful God. When everything God. When everything about Judah and Israel was reduced to utter nothingness, Jeremiah sees the birth of the Savior, the just shoot that will be raised from the stump of David.
- Rev. Fr. Paul J. Marquez, SSP
Sambuhay, Year 23 No. 22