WE start afresh with our new liturgical calendar as the season of Advent begins. Saint Luke (21:25-28, 34-36), our evangelist-companion for Year C, leads us to reflect on the end-fulfillment of our human existence based on the coming of Jesus Christ.
Not in fear but in joy
The time of struggle ends when Jesus comes back to gather us into the eternity of divine love. The certainty of this end-time fulfillment gives our Christian life goal and dynamism. Things are proceeding on their way toward the end of time and the eternity of God’s reign. Speaking of “those days” of his final coming, Jesus made use of the traditional apocalyptic language typified by the prophet Daniel. Details of cosmic disorder of sun, moon and stars are meant to dramatize the upheavals affecting everyone when the time of the end comes. But Jesus focuses on the present, aiming at the response of his followers to the truth of the divine advent, and on how they are to behave even as they wait for
his coming.
“When these things begin to happen,” others may be “dying of fright,” but the attitude of believers must be different. Because these signs tell them that their redemption is at hand, they should “stand up straight and raise their heads.” Aware of the dangers, they have been hoping nonetheless for “those days” that declare the final victory and lordship of Jesus. Like travelers coming out of the dark into the breaking sun, true Christians will straighten up and lift their heads, basking in warm light and joy, in the splendor of their ultimate liberation.
In prayerfulness
The unforeseeable character of Jesus’ final coming (Luke 12:35-46; 17:22-36) demands constant vigilance. Escape into debauchery and drunkenness (Luke 12:54), and also being engrossed with earthly cares, are but addictive distractions (Luke 8:14; 12:22-31; 17:27-28). Typical of Saint Luke, the state of being alert and vigilant means concrete prayer at all times. Being in the presence of the Lord, with mind and heart lifted up to God, one cannot go amiss for the coming of the final victory. Our ancient tradition of Saturday night “vigil prayer” dramatizes the Christian waiting for the Lord’s advent, which becomes manifest with the entrance of dawn. The dawn of Sunday, the Day of the Lord, properly resounds with praise and glory.
Our sacred liturgy as prayer is clearly proclamation and evangelization. Sunday Eucharist most especially is the celebration of and thanksgiving for what we “already” possess: salvation in Jesus Christ who has come and will come again. Although we are aware that we are “not yet” in full and eternal possession of what divine love offers us, we in hope rejoice because of our faith that Jesus comes here and now in His Word and Sacrament. Every Sunday, as the Day of the Lord, provides us the experience as community of our passage from darkness into God’s marvelous light. Every Eucharistic celebration is an efficacious sign unveiling each time Christ’s presence among us. A thrill of joy and confidence fills us, making us overflow with love with regard to all. A life in charity is the other side of watching for the coming of the Lord, even as we persevere against the inner darkness of fear, as well as the outer darkness of infidelity.
Alálaong bagá, our confidence that God is leading us toward the time of fulfillment likewise reminds us that we are not free from responsibility. As the season of Advent reawakens our hope in the salvation that will come in the fullness of the “Day of the Lord,” we pray to God to increase our strength of will to do good, nourished and taught by the Eucharist, our heads held high waiting to meet the One who has come and is coming.
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.