"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."
"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."
We begin our Liturgical Year with the Season of Advent. Advent means "coming". In this season, we reflect on the coming of Christ. We prepare for the second coming of the Lord at the end of time, as we remember how He came to us in time, as a child, some twenty centuries ago. Advent, therefore, is a season of waiting. We wait for the coming of Jesus in our hearts and as judge at the end of time.
We are living in between Christ's coming two thousand years ago and His coming at the end of time. The early Christians used to cry, "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!". But now, more than two thousand years after, that cry seems to be getting softer and softer. Christianity has survived through time, but the longing for the return of Christ seems to be weakening. Faith has become limited to just admitting that there is a God. People attend Mass as if it were a program. They stand, sit and speak whenever needed, but do not pray. We no longer nourish our souls, as we are too busy with worldly affairs.
This is what Jesus warns us about. We must not be too preoccupied with the anxieties of life. All these things to which we give value will all disappear anyway. They are ephemeral. And the tasks that we are so busy with are not as important compared to the task Jesus expects us to do - steadfast waiting. Jesus expects us to be steadfast in faith, hope and love. He expects us to follow His teachings and to hold on to His words. He expects us not to belong to the world. He expects us not just to wait, but to be loyal Christians while we wait for Him. This is what steadfast waiting means.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul says that we ought to be holy before God. He exhorts us to live in a manner pleasing to God. A life of holiness entails imitating Christ, living according to how Christ taught us to live. This life is characterized by a steadfast faith that consists in knowing, loving and serving God. Our faith should be active, producing fruit, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of those around us.
As Christians, we should realize that the happiness this world offers is never permanent. Hence, we must not burden ourselves with the pursuit of these things, to the extent that we forget to prepare for the life beyond this world. If we hold on to the things of this world, Jesus warns us that the day of judgment shall catch us unprepared, by surprise, like a trap.
Jesus said to Martha, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed" (Lk 10:41-42). He makes the same exhortation to us today. "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life."
At the end of time, when there shall be tribulation, we cannot hold on to the things we own, nor to the things we have accomplished. We can only hold on to the fact that we have become faithful. With this steadfast faith, we shall have the confidence to face the Son of Man, the assurance that we shall belong to those whose redemption is at hand. We shall be able to stand erect and raise our heads.
We are living in between Christ's coming two thousand years ago and His coming at the end of time. The early Christians used to cry, "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!". But now, more than two thousand years after, that cry seems to be getting softer and softer. Christianity has survived through time, but the longing for the return of Christ seems to be weakening. Faith has become limited to just admitting that there is a God. People attend Mass as if it were a program. They stand, sit and speak whenever needed, but do not pray. We no longer nourish our souls, as we are too busy with worldly affairs.
This is what Jesus warns us about. We must not be too preoccupied with the anxieties of life. All these things to which we give value will all disappear anyway. They are ephemeral. And the tasks that we are so busy with are not as important compared to the task Jesus expects us to do - steadfast waiting. Jesus expects us to be steadfast in faith, hope and love. He expects us to follow His teachings and to hold on to His words. He expects us not to belong to the world. He expects us not just to wait, but to be loyal Christians while we wait for Him. This is what steadfast waiting means.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul says that we ought to be holy before God. He exhorts us to live in a manner pleasing to God. A life of holiness entails imitating Christ, living according to how Christ taught us to live. This life is characterized by a steadfast faith that consists in knowing, loving and serving God. Our faith should be active, producing fruit, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of those around us.
As Christians, we should realize that the happiness this world offers is never permanent. Hence, we must not burden ourselves with the pursuit of these things, to the extent that we forget to prepare for the life beyond this world. If we hold on to the things of this world, Jesus warns us that the day of judgment shall catch us unprepared, by surprise, like a trap.
Jesus said to Martha, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed" (Lk 10:41-42). He makes the same exhortation to us today. "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life."
At the end of time, when there shall be tribulation, we cannot hold on to the things we own, nor to the things we have accomplished. We can only hold on to the fact that we have become faithful. With this steadfast faith, we shall have the confidence to face the Son of Man, the assurance that we shall belong to those whose redemption is at hand. We shall be able to stand erect and raise our heads.
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