Watch and Be Ready - the Day of the Lord's Coming Draws
Near
Introduction: May you have the strength and energy to live
adventurously during the new year.
Today we celebrate the beginning of a new year. Many people
make resolutions around December 31 and January 1 of each year. They strive to
be better individuals and live more resolute lives. Yet for the Church, we
begin our new year today. We look forward with great expectation and hope as we
realize we are about to celebrate the “coming” (adventus) of the Lord Jesus.
And the “coming” of the Lord Jesus is multi-faceted. Yes, we are looking
forward to celebrating Jesus’ first “coming” on Christmas, in 26 days. But we
are also being challenged to prepare for Jesus’ Final “Coming” when He returns
at the end of the world as we know it. People will be spending a lot of time in
the next four weeks in preparation for Christmas (a celebration that will soon
pass). But how much time are we spending in preparing to celebrate with the
“Coming” Lord Jesus Who will be leading those who are ready for an eternity
with Him and His Abba-Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit? I will be
particularly praying for you that you are preparing yourselves to welcome the
Lord Jesus when He “comes” again.
Advent, that we begin today, comes from the Latin adventus
meaning “coming.” The “Coming” of our GOD will have different results. The
First Reading envisions the new world order that will be established when the
LORD “comes.” The Responsorial Psalm describes the joy of those “coming” into
the house of the LORD. In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds his readers that
they must be prepared for the time is at hand when the darkness will be turned
into light as the Lord Jesus “comes” again. In the Gospel, Jesus foretells that
the time of the “coming” of the Son of Man will catch some people off guard and
some will be left behind while others will move on to be with the Lord Jesus
and His Abba-Father.
First reading Isaiah 2:1-5: The Lord gathers all nations
together into the eternal peace of the Kingdom of God.
Commentary: With
the beginning of Advent we turn to the idea of the coming of Christ, in history
(that is, at Bethlehem), in mystery (that is, in the Church) and in majesty
(that is, at the end of time). First of all we turn to the vision of the peace
which Christ brings, and for which we all yearn. The hill on which Jerusalem
lies is not a particularly high one, but when Christ comes it will be a
towering mountain, dominating the whole country. All nations will realise its
importance and come to Jerusalem to draw salvation from it, the source of all
salvation. The increasing concern of Israel for the salvation of the gentiles,
which first comes to the fore in the Post-exilic book, here reaches a
high-point. The permanent ending of war and strife is signalled by the
re-moulding of the weapons of war. You can’t make war if you have converted
your tanks into chicken-houses and your aircraft-carriers into
skateboard-parks– the modern equivalent of swords into ploughshares and spears
into sickles. So Advent is a time of peace, peace between nations but also
peace between families and within families, a time for reconciliation of
quarrels as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
Today’s psalm is one voiced by pilgrims as they journey up to the house of the LORD – the Temple in Jerusalem. They are “coming” into GOD’s presence, and great expectations and excitement fill them as they draw ever nearer to the time when they will actually be in GOD’s house. Being with the LORD GOD brings a sense of peace as people pray for each other’s Good.
Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14a: ‘Salvation is nearer to
us now.’
Commentary: After
his great exposition in the Letter to the Romans of the saving work of Christ,
Paul goes on to encourage the Christians of Rome to be faithful. With the
Resurrection the final era of the world has begun. There is no room for delay:
the night is nearly over and the children of light are coming into their own.
Paul sees a pressing need for action, and much of his moral advice, especially
in First Corinthians, is grounded on the assumption that the Second Coming of
Christ at the end of the world is imminent. Did Paul get it wrong? He never
says exactly how imminent it is, how soon the Second Coming will occur, but we
can safely say that he would have been surprised to discover that two thousand
years would pass without any sign of it occurring. However, equally safe is it
to say that timing is not his concern. The Second Coming remains imminent, in
that there is no time to delay in mending our ways and preparing for this
event. We are given an important reminder of this by our celebration of Christmas.
Each year must really be a coming of Christ into our lives and our society.
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44: Stay awake so that you may be
ready.
Commentary: In
each year of the three-year cycle the Advent Sunday gospel-readings have the
same pattern: the first is about the final Coming of Christ. In the second John
the Baptist is preparing a community of repentance to welcome Jesus’ mission.
In the third John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Messiah. On the fourth
Sunday we look to Mary, preparing for the birth of her Son. In this Sunday’s
reading about the Second Coming the accent is the same as in the Pauline
letter: a pressing and urgent need to take action without delay. The Second
Coming will be sudden and unexpected and will seem as random as the threat of
one taken, one left, or as a thief in the night when no protective preparations
have been made. We do not even know whether the final confrontation, when each
of us is brought face to face with the awesome presence of God, will be a
unique event for each of us at death, or whether it will be a group event, as
in Matthew’s parable of the sheep and goats sent to right and left. There is no
time in eternity, no waiting-room! It will not be as any human mind can
envisage it.
Reflection: Why did Jesus compare "the coming of the Son
of Man" with the "days of Noah" (Matthew 24:37)? Scripture
describes both events as a day of judgment and the separation of the just from
the unjust. It is a time when the Lord of heaven and earth gathers to himself
those who are his own. Separation is an inevitable consequence of the
fundamental choices people have made - whether for God or against God. The
fundamental choices we make can either lead us towards God and his will for us
or they can lead us in a direction that is opposed to God or contrary to his
wisdom and plan for our lives and well-being.
The days of Noah: The
Book of Genesis describes why God chose to separate Noah and his family who
were faithful to God from those who had utterly rejected God and corrupted the
earth with violence and evil:
"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in
the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually" (Genesis 6:5), "with corruption and violence
spreading everywhere" (Genesis 6:11-12).
Why did so many perish when the day of judgment came? They
were caught completely unaware and unprepared for the disaster that swept them
away. The Lord Jesus warned his disciples and he issues the same warning to us
today - be alert and be prepared to meet the Lord today and every day - and
when he comes again to judge the living and the dead.
The ark of refuge: Just
as God provided a safe haven and place of refuge for Noah and his family in the
ark which spared them from destruction (Genesis 7), the Lord provides for us
today a place of refuge in the ark of his people - the body of Christ - who
listen to his word and obey his voice. God made a covenant of peace with Noah
and his descendants (Genesis 9:8-17). Noah's ark was a prophetic sign and
beacon of hope which prefigured the new covenant of everlasting peace which the
Lord Jesus would accomplish through his atoning death on the cross,
resurrection, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
Jesus came to fulfill all the promises of God, including the
covenant of peace which God made with Noah. Jesus' first coming was a rescue
mission to set us free from sin and condemnation and to give us new life in his
Holy Spirit. Jesus died for our sins, rose to everlasting life, and is now
seated in glory at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He now reigns over
the heavens and the earth as the exalted Lord of creation. The Lord Jesus
promised that he would return again in glory to complete the work of redemption
which he began at his first coming.
Our merciful Savior is also
our Judge and Vindicator: God fulfills all his promises to us in
Jesus, our merciful Savior, who will come again as our Judge and Vindicator.
Jesus told his disciples that the Father has given him all authority to execute
judgments on the earth "because he is the Son of man" (John 5:27).
The "Son of man" is a Messianic title for God's anointed one who will
overthrow God's enemies and establish an everlasting kingdom of righteousness
and peace. The "Son of man" is described in the Book of Daniel as the
one who is given supreme authority to judge and execute justice on the earth
(Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus came the first time to lay down his life as the atoning
sacrifice for the sin of the world. He promises to return again at the "end
of the age" to complete the work of restoration and final judgment. While
we do not know the time of his return, we will not mistake it when it happens.
It will be apparent to all, both to the followers of the Lord Jesus and to
every inhabitant on the earth as well.
One is taken away and the
other is left: How are we to live our lives now in light of Jesus'
promise to return again as our Lord and Judge on the final day of judgment?
Jesus gives two striking images to illustrate the urgency of the need to not be
caught off guard and unprepared when we are suddenly summoned to appear before
the Lord on the day of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41). The first image Jesus used
is a description of two men working together in the field - very likely close
family members or close co-workers. One is suddenly taken away and the other is
left. The image of two women who are working closely together repeats the theme
of the sudden rupture and separation
Hilary of Poitiers (315-367) an early church father, Scripture
scholar and writer, explains the meaning of this short parable.
"Christ shows that a judgment is coming, since between
two people in a field, one is taken up and one left behind. Between two
grinding at the mill, one is chosen and one rejected. Between two lying in bed,
one departs and one remains. This teaching means that the separation of the
faithful from the unfaithful will consist in one being accepted and the other
abandoned. For, like the prophet says, when the wrath of God rises, the saints
will be hidden in God's chambers but the faithless will be left exposed to
celestial fire. The two in the field therefore represent the faithful and the
unfaithful, both of whom will be surprised by the day of the Lord in the midst
of the world, in the course of their life's work. They will be separated, one
taken and the other left. It will be the same for the two grinding at the mill,
which represents the work of the law. For only some of the Jews, like Elijah,
believed through the apostles that they must be justified by faith. One group
will be taken up through the faith that produces good works, and the other
group will be abandoned in the fruitless works of the law, grinding in vain at
a mill that will never produce heavenly food. (commentary ON MATTHEW 26.5)
What is striking about Jesus' parable is the sudden and
unexpected turn of events - a summons to appear before the Judge to hear his
verdict on the day of reckoning when he acts to separate the just from the
unjust. All who had faith in Jesus Christ receive the just reward of
everlasting joy and friendship in his kingdom of righteousness and peace.
The thief in the night: Jesus'
second story of the thief in the night (Matthew 24:43-44) brings home the
necessity for constant watchfulness and being on guard to avert the danger of
plunder and destruction, especially under the cover of darkness and secrecy!
While no thief would announce his intention in advance, nor the time when he
would strike, lack of vigilance would nonetheless invite disaster for those who
do not keep a watchful eye and guard against the thief who would try to break
in and steal. Satan tries to rob us of our faith in Jesus Christ and the
treasure of the kingdom which Christ has won for us.
Advent people - watching with expectant faith and yearning for
Christ's coming
The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Day when the Lord would
judge between the nations and establish peace over the earth. In that day the
righteous - all peoples who believed in him and who listened to his teaching
and instruction - would come to his holy mountain and house to worship him and
dwell with him in everlasting peace (Isaiah 2:3-5). The Advent season reminds
us that we are living in the time between the first coming and second coming of
the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus calls us to be alert and watchful for his
coming. He comes to us each and every day and he knocks on the door of our
heart and home. Do you listen for his voice and welcome him into your life? Let
his word in the Scriptures and the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you
draw you to a deeper faith, hope, and yearning for his kingdom of
righteousness, peace, and joy. Those who wait upon the Lord today and listen to
his word will not be disappointed. The Lord will come and bring you to his banquet
table to feast with him.
Lord Jesus, you have captured my heart for you. Make me
strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and generous in love that I may seek to
please you in all things and bring you glory and praise. Keep me ever watchful
for the coming of your kingdom today and every day of my life.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: Finding the pearl
of great price, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"All who listen to the depths of the gospel and live it
so completely that none of it remains veiled from them care very little about
whether the end of the world will come suddenly and all at once or gradually
and little by little. Instead, they bear in mind only that each individual's
end or death will arrive on a day and hour unknown to him and that upon each
one of us 'the day of the Lord will come like a thief' (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
It is important therefore to be vigilant, whether in the evening (that is, in
one's youth) or in the middle of the night (that is, at human life's darkest
hour) or when the cock crows (at full maturity) or in the morning (when one is
well advanced in old age).
"When God the Word comes and brings an end to the
progress of this life, he will gather up the one who gave 'no sleep to his eyes
nor slumber to his eyelids' (Psalm 132:4) and kept the commandment of the One
who said, 'Be vigilant at all times' (Luke 21:36). ...But I know another kind
of end for the righteous person who is able to say along with the apostle, 'Far
be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world' (Galatians 6:14). In a
certain sense, the end of the world has already come for the person to whom the
world is crucified. And to one who is dead to worldly things the day of the
Lord has already arrived, for the Son of man comes to the soul of the one who
no longer lives for sin or for the world." (excerpt Commentary on
Matthew56)
Preparation Day: “It
is now the hour for you to wake from sleep.” —Romans 13:11
A thief preparing to break into your house wants to take
your possessions (see Mt 24:43). Jesus, our Lord and King, also is preparing to
enter your house, even standing and knocking at your door (Rv 3:20). First, He
desires to have fellowship with you. Then, if you allow, He desires to take
possession of your life and your home. He wants to be Lord of everything in
your life. We prevent the thief from entering by making our house secure, but
are we also guarding our possessions and hearts so strongly that we are
preventing Jesus from entering?
Jesus says that even if we are prepared for His coming, we
will be surprised at the timing (see Mt 24:36; 25:5). Accordingly, the best way
to be prepared for the coming of Christ is to be prepared today. Make Him Lord
of your house right now. “The time is short” (1 Cor 7:29). “Prepare the way of
the Lord” (Mt 3:3).
Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us (Jn 14:2-3). We
likewise are to be preparing a place for Jesus, so that He can dwell in our
hearts, homes, work, and lives. Are we “on our guard” about some things, but
completely off guard about the more important things, like the Second Coming of
Christ?
The measure we measure with shall be measured back to us (Mt
7:2). When Jesus knocks on our door, if we tell Him, “I do not know where You
come from. Depart from me” (see Mt 7:23; Lk 13:27), we should not be surprised
if Jesus says the same to us when we knock on His door on Judgment Day (Mt
25:11-12). Therefore, prepare for His coming now (Mt 24:44).
Prayer: Father, I will put my secular Christmas
preparations on hold until I have prepared for the coming of Your Son, Jesus.
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the
flesh.” —Rm 13:14 All hail, King Jesus! Reign over this new year. Alleluia!
The personal action for
today: How ready am I to meet
the Lord Jesus when He “comes” for me? How am I furthering the Reign of God by working
for peace and justice? What practical thing(s) can I do during this season of Advent
to bring the true sense of joy and light into the life of those who are presently
experiencing cold and darkness?
*Saint Andrew: Andrew was Saint Peter’s brother, and was called with
him. “As [Jesus] was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who
is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were
fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’
At once they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-20).
John the Evangelist presents Andrew as a disciple of John the
Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Andrew
and another disciple followed Jesus. “Jesus turned and saw them following him and
said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated
means Teacher), where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day” (John
1:38-39a).
Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels. Before the multiplication
of the loaves, it was Andrew who spoke up about the boy who had the barley loaves
and fishes. When the Gentiles went to see Jesus, they came to Philip, but Philip
then had recourse to Andrew.
Legend has it that Andrew preached the Good News in what is now
modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras on an X-shaped cross.
As in the case of all the apostles except Peter and John, the
Gospels give us little about the holiness of Andrew. He was an apostle. That is
enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with
Jesus’ power and to share his life and death. Holiness today is no different. It
is a gift that includes a call to be concerned about the Kingdom, an outgoing attitude
that wants nothing more than to share the riches of Christ with all people.
