MAKE MORE AND MORE PROGRESS, ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

I SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Luke 21:25-28,34-36

Advent is always a time full of hope in which we look forward together with Mary to the coming of Jesus. This Sunday's readings present us with some basic attitudes which we should cultivate, especially during this Advent time.

In the Gospel, Jesus advises us to pay attention to what is happening about us. It is so easy to lead a distracted life, not paying attention to the signs that appear along the way, mainly the danger signs. We live as if everything is running smoothly. However, Jesus gives us a strong warning: we will pass through widespread situations of crisis, uncertainty and anguish that may lead us into despair, causing us to do acts of true madness. The world will feel threatened and people will be at a loss on how to deal with such menace, in such a way that there will be “men dying of fear”. In fact, humanity has faced catastrophe so many times that it got used to it until the day it will reach its climax. However, Jesus’ warning is not in order to instil fear, but in order to strengthen us and fill us with hope.

In the first reading, Jeremiah announces that there will be a time of “honesty and integrity in the land”. There will be a time for salvation when we “shall dwell in confidence” and peace. And city we will live in will be called “The Lord is our righteousness” (Jer 33:14-16). Such a time will be brought in by the Messiah, who will come to establish God’s Kingdom.

And Jesus speaks of the Son of Man “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” to establish his kingdom, a kingdom of justice and peace. He will come to put under his feet all the powers of evil. He will come as judge and Saviour. That will be a time of liberation, in which we will be filled with joy and pride because God our Father will grant us the inheritance promised to us as his children. Indeed, we can “stand erect” and hold our “heads high”, and we will join all the saints singing God’s praises.

Finally, Jesus advises us to “stay awake, praying at all times”. We will go through difficult times and on our own only we will not have “the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” It is so easy to go astray and so we must be on the watch, not allowing our hearts to “be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life”. We may fall into a “trap”, accepting false values as the true ones and taking this passing world for the eternal.

In the second reading, Paul advises us to grow in holiness: “Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants” (1 Tes 4:1). May the Lord grant us his grace, so that we grow more and more in love.