Preparing and Locating the Story

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On the previous Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent, we considered a passage taken from the stream of Luke’s discourse on the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the signs of the end, warnings about the coming persecutions, the Great Tribulation, and finally the gospel passage about the coming Son of Man (all from Luke 21). The text included: “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.” (Luke 21:26-37). To our modern mind, a rather odd choice for the first Sunday of Advent. But then our modern minds think of Advent as the gateway to prepare for Christmas. And therein lies the problem. As explained previously, Advent begins in the shadow of the celebration of Christ as King of the Universe. Considering that, suddenly the reading for the first week of Advent makes sense – we are to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus, what the prophets called “the day of the Lord.” Continue reading →

What can possibly save us?

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“The days are coming…[when] Judah will be made safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.” Such was the promise of the prophet Jeremiah to the beleaguered people of the City of David under the ominous cloud of war and death – the power of the Egyptian King Neco to the south and the armies of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to the north and east.  That was then. Where are the prophets now when Jerusalem is a divided city and the missiles of Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran have the City of David within their reach. Are the prophets now replaced by the anti-missile technology of the Iron Dome? The system promises to protect Israel, but it cannot promise to save Israel, to make Jerusalem safe and secure. Continue reading →

The Season of Advent

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Advent is the liturgical season that precedes and prepares for Christmas. It is a season of hope and of longing, of joyful expectation and of peaceful preparation. Many symbols and traditions are associated with Advent, especially the Advent Wreath with its four colored candles (three purple and one pink), but also Advent calendars, special Advent music, food, processions, and other traditions that may vary from one culture or region to the next. Here are a few interesting things to know about Advent: Continue reading →

A Final Thought

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At the beginning of this commentary, we noted that it might seem odd to have an “end times” passage as the gospel for the first Sunday of Advent. But recall that while such readings are often associated with the second coming of Christ in the mind of modern readers, the Old Testament passages that speak of the “days of wrath” or “the day of the Lord” are pointing to the coming of the promised Messiah. And our gospel reminds us that in our liturgical cycle we too are preparing to celebrate the coming of the Messiah – even as we are reminded of the passing nature of this world and our lives. Continue reading →

Warnings and Advice

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the posts this week we have looked  at the gospel in context and in detail. The reading ends with a final admonishment

34 “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 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 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.”

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The People’s Response

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the previous post we were considering the Lukan usage of the word “sign” – 25 “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. Continue reading →

When these signs begin

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This coming Sunday is the start of a new liturgical year (Year C) and the first Sunday in Advent. In the two previous posts we placed the Sunday gospel in the context of the Advent Season and in Scripture. Today we can begin to consider some of the details.

25 “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. 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

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Remembering the Roots of Thanksgiving

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I am grateful for a day in which we, as a people, pause to give thanks. And who do we have to thank for this holiday? Your answer is likely “The Pilgrims.” You would not be wrong, but then not completely correct, either. Certainly, Thanksgiving and the religious response of giving thanks to God is as old as time. When one considers enduring cultures, one always finds men and women working out their relationship to God. There is almost always a fourfold purpose to our acts of worship: adoration, petition, atonement, thanksgiving. Such worship is part and parcel of life. And yet, there is still a very human need to specially celebrate and offer thanksgiving on key occasions and anniversaries. Since medieval times, we have very detailed records of celebrations marking the end of an epidemic, liberation from sure and certain doom, the signing of a peace treaty, and more. Continue reading →

Revelation – the mark of the beast

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The first readings for this 34th Week of Ordinary Time is taken from the Book of Revelation (except Thursday in the United States as we celebrate Thanksgiving). Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best is unfamiliar to us. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature which enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles from ca. 200 B.C. to A.D. 200. The first readings this week contain visions in symbolic and allegorical language borrowed extensively from the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Daniel. Continue reading →