SUNDAY
1st Sunday of Advent.(Year
3/C.)
1st
2nd
Gospel
Good stories are worth retelling and Advent
begins the story of God's love for us all over again in the life and person of
Jesus, as told by Luke. In the Old Testament readings for Advent we remember
God's promises to his people in the past giving them hope in desperate times.
In the Gospel passages we see the beginning of the fulfilment of these
promises, encouraging us to trust in God's love and look forward to our liberation.
1st
Jeremiah offers
a message of hope to a people who were in exile and their beloved city of
God will
reconcile them through a human instrument, an individual who will come from a
particular family, the family of David, and who will practice honesty and
integrity in the land. The name of their city
These words of
Jeremiah challenge us to look beyond our own times of distress and trouble and
put our trust in a God who can bring change and new growth into our lives. We
too shall be saved and dwell in confidence.
Gospel.
There is a
familiar ring about this passage from Luke about the end time and the coming of
the Son of
Jesus paints a
bleak picture of the end of the world - on earth nations in agony, men dying of
fear, the powers of heaven being shaken. These are dramatic words, which are
meant to get our attention and cause us to reflect on their meaning. They are
not meant to paralyse us with fear but energise us to action.
This passage is
not really about the future but about the present and taking responsibility for
our lives today - to watch ourselves lest we lose sight of our true destiny as
followers of Jesus and be led astray by the cares of life.
If we are true
to our calling and practice honesty and integrity in the land, we have nothing
to fear when we see the signs of the end time. We can hold our heads high, and
dwell in confidence, because our liberation is at hand. In the meantime let us
endure our present troubles, bearing witness in hope, and remaining alert in
prayer.
Updated by Br. Dick
Burke 22/11/2009.