This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a Church new year. The readings for the first three weeks of Advent present to us an odd paradox – We start the year by reflecting on Jesus’ final return in glory. Though this idea may seem frightening to some; Advent encourages us to see the end times with joyful anticipation.
How is the end of the world something to find joy in?
Well, there are many ways to approach this delicate question. One way is to tease a follow-up question – Will Jesus’ final return be the end of something or the beginning of something? In typical Catholic “both/and” intuition, the world of sin and death will end, giving way to the “New Jerusalem,” a new creation that will be transformed and glorified.
What will that new creation be like?
I don’t know – Eye has not seen nor ear has heard what God has ready for in us in the new creation. Scripture hints at some qualities of the new creation. When viewing this new creation as being connected with “Kingdom Theology,” for example, we affirm this new creation is already starting to unfold through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, but will not be fully revealed until Christ’s final return in glory. So, in many ways, the new creation is, in part, right in front of our eyes while the veil between time and eternity still obscures our awareness. The starting point for seeing with these eyes is to find truth, goodness and beauty in our midst.
So… What will happen between now and when the Kingdom is fully established?
Welcome to the Gospel for the 1st Sunday of Advent.
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.” (Luke 21:25-28,34-36)
This passage teases out two approaches to prepare for Jesus’ return – Shrink in fear or stand erect!
Something I’m going to focus on in my homily for the first Sunday of Advent is how we respond to signs and wonders of our times. When we see fascinating things in the sun, moon and stars, do we obsess in fear about things outside of our control or do we stand confident in God’s love? Do we let fear stifle our hearts with irrational fear or do we allow our faith to call forth the amazing person God created us to be? Perhaps God desires us to be a light of confident hope in times of darkness. This distinction hints at the difference between seeing the Gift of the Holy Spirit we call “Fear of the Lord” as being afraid of God in contrast to being reduced in Awe and Wonder in the presence of God’s glory. One approach stifles us in fear while the other liberates us with joy.
And how much Awe and Wonder will there be in the new creation? I don’t know, but when put in this context, I can’t wait to experience that unthinkable reality!
Pray this week to be filled with awe, wonder and confidence. Do not let fear over the condition of our world and the signs of our times stifle you. Let the love God liberate you and help you stand erect as a beacon of hope in these difficult times.
