First Sunday of Advent

Fr. Bob Struzynski, OFM, and Martin Shields offer their thoughts about the beginning of Advent. You're invited to share your thoughts and reflections.

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READINGS

Jer 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”

1 Thes 3:12-4:2
Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
Cand as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
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.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.

“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 like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
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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REFLECTION

I read recently of a teacher who had an interesting way of teaching children about the Bible. He took them to the local library and showed them the different kinds of books in the library: history, fiction, poetry, biography, reference books and then he said: “ Now the bible is really not a book but a library. And it is important to know which book you are reading in this library too so you read it correctly.

Now that little lesson is important for our reading from the Gospel today. We read from the Book of Revelation and that is an apocalyptic book, a special type of literature prevalent in the 1st Century A.D. and connected with the experience of persecution. It is not to be taken literally, rather through its fantastic imagery the message for those first believers is that, in spite of their terrible situation, the Lord has not abandoned them. He is present in the midst of what they are going through and he will come again so fear not, just persevere, don't give up hope!

This message rings loud and clear in the spirituality of A. A. and I try to deliver it weekly in the prison where I am Chaplain. I often put it in the words of a recovering alcoholic priest who wrote a book of meditations for “all people recovering from life”:

“Everything can be used for good if it is perceived realistically; destructive experiences, painful moments and failed relationships can all be used to create a new tomorrow.”

For me this is a wonderful restatement of the same message from the Book of Apocalypse for all of us today. Be hopeful, no matter what you are going through as we begin this season of Advent. The Lord has not abandoned you. He has come! He comes into the present moment no matter how dark it might seem and He will come again.

We live in a world where we currently face significant problems both domestically and internationally and, for many people, these problems have impacted them in a very personal manner. Throughout the Readings and Gospel the themes of hope and confidence are present. Confidence that God will help all of us persevere through both our personal and communal troubles and hope that we can find solutions to our problems at some point in the future. Most likely our solutions will be far from perfect but, through God, we will find a way for them to work for us and all others involved. This hope and confidence will provide a strong foundation for all our days until we no longer have a physical presence on the earth.

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(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)