I am blessed meeting pious women in Manila. They are faithful traditional Latin Mass church-goers who invited me to celebrate the Extraordinary Form. I spent half day with them sharing the word, sacrament and the meaning of the mass. Gaining friends is indeed instilled in my Augustinian way or life: Friends and companions for the Lord.
Today marks the beginning of the Church Liturgical Calendar, the first Sunday of Advent. In the liturgy of Advent, we will be hearing a lot from the gospel about the coming of the Lord. But the gospel passage assigned for the first Sunday in Advent, this does not come to terrify us. It comes from near the end, as Jesus is preparing his disciples for the time when he will no longer be with them in the flesh. Jesus has come to Jerusalem for one purpose only: to give his life for the redemption of us all. His earthly ministry is nearing its completion, and he knows it.
We heard from the gospel of St. Luke that “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always alert, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:25-36)
What does this gospel mean to us? I guess this is a warning to be vigilant and alert so that the coming of the Lord does not catch us off-guard. This is why we hear these words during Advent. We are in the season of preparation for the coming of Christ. We are not only anticipating the celebration of Christmas, but we too are also anticipating Christ’s coming in glory to the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. It brings us Hope.
I invite you to reflect these two important points:
First, Jesus says, “People will faint from fear.” However, it is not words to make us afraid because during the olden times, human encounter with God and hearing His voice had been very intense but Jesus reveals God’s compassion and many times in the scriptures we usually hear “Fear Not and Do not be afraid,” which are the assuring words of Jesus to his disciples because he knows that people will faint from fear. I believe that the encounter of the Divine can be a lot scary. Jesus wants to calm us down.
Second, Jesus likes to illustrate the sign of the fig tree, He curses it for not bearing fruits. This parable coming from the evangelist St. Luke tells us about the unpredictable character of a fig tree’s growth cycle just like the coming of the Son of Man. We have heard many things about the coming of the “rapture” or the end of the world. We heard many times, but we are already used to hear that warning but unfortunately it did not happen. Only God knows.
Remember that in the gospel of John, Jesus called Nathanael sitting under the fig tree. In the scripture sitting under the fig tree is a sign of peace and prosperity. This is what we should do to sit comfortably under the fig tree. And maybe the point Jesus is trying to makeis by lifting our hearts and mind to God in prayer. Jesus has already come in our midst; His redemption has come and God is near.
God’s salvation is close enough for those who are faithful because Christ’s presence is with you. God’s coming on earth and who lived with us in history is the reason of hope. I do believe that advent is not only about remembering Christ’s coming but rather His presence is the reason of HOPE, for heaven and earth will pass aways but His words will never expire.
Let us magnify the Lord, by examining our unhealthy patterns of behavior. Just focus our energy on following Jesus so closely and be an example to others. We must endure that hope so that we can share the love of Christ, we must come to experience relating with people who need Christ’s love.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
