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Texts of the Readings
December 3, 2006
First Sunday of Advent (C)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
3: Jer 33:14-16 X
Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
X 1 Thess 3:12-4:2
X Lk 21:25-28,
34-36
In the liturgical cycle we are just beginning the Advent observances that
will bring us to Christmas. The readings are a confluence of several
streams of thought that look in one way or another toward the coming of the
Lord.
The first reading puts us in the historical time period of
Jeremiah just before the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Though the
Babylonian conquest of Judah would be devastating, the days would come in
God’s good time when the restoration of Judah would take place. Through a
righteous branch of the Davidic dynasty the nation would be rebuilt. Here,
the messianic expectation is for a temporal leader/messiah who would bring
about peace and well-being for the nation. This reflects the prophecy of 2
Samuel 7 that established the line of David as the ruling family. The
fulfillment of the prophecy became a theological conundrum when the monarchy
ended and there was no descendant of David to take leadership. The belief
was that God’s word in the prophecy would be fulfilled, but at that point in
time people did not know how that would happen.
In the Christian faith experience, especially in Matthew’s
infancy narrative, Jesus was believed to be the one who would have fulfilled
the messianic expectation of the prophecy. (Mt 1-2) The beginning of his
preaching ministry was signaled by John the Baptist. Later in his ministry
Jesus made predictions about the End Time and his Second Coming. These are
presented in the Synoptic Apocalypse, and our Gospel reading is taken from
Luke’s version of the cosmic signs and earthly disorders that would precede
the events.
Luke spoke of the destruction of the temple and the end of the
age. (Lk 21:8-36) After the signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the
stars, and on the earth the distress of the nations, the Son of Man will
appear. He will come in a cloud with power and great glory. When these
things begin to happen it will be the time for people to stand up, and raise
their heads, for redemption will be drawing near.
Luke follows this with a warning about being alert at all times
and living uprightly so as to be prepared whenever the Lord returns. For
the days will come, and all need to pray for strength and courage to stand
before the Son of Man.
Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians instructed the Christian
community at Thessalonica about how to live up to the time of the coming of
the Lord Jesus. (1 Thess 3) They were to abound in love for one another
and to strengthen their hearts in holiness. Thus they would be blameless
before God the Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus. He finished by
saying, in effect, that they should remember what he told them.
With the Psalmist we can pray, “Make me know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths. You are the God of my salvation.” (Ps 25)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C. |
