1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (“C”)
November 29, 2009

Q. 556: This is scary stuff we read in the Gospel today (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36).

A. 556: Today more than ever we need to focus on the positive theme of Expectation. Once again the evangelist Luke shows Jesus using apocalyptic imagery to get our attention – and he did! But the underlying message is not disaster, but expectant hope!

We’ve seen a lot of significant, even earth-shaking tragedies in just a few short years. The terrible Tsunami in the island countries of the southwestern Pacific; the terrorist activities in New York City; devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico; and earthquakes of gigantic proportions in several locations. The correct response was (and ought to be) compassion for the victims and support for the surviving families.

Terror can take hold of our lives and rule us unless we remember the promises of Jesus our Savior. First of all, if there should occur a truly cosmic cataclysm in our times, it points to the coming of the Son of Man – and that means our redemption (Luke 21:28). Secondly, we cling with faith to another crucial fact: regardless of what happens to us, we know that the Lord is with us through it all; he has promised to be with us until the end of time. So both of those truths mean that we can face our present and our future with total confidence and supreme hope. Our Lord who died to save us now dwells within us! He will help us through any and all adversities.

So Jesus is very helpful to us today when he warns us to beware of laxity in our daily behavior or else we will be taken by surprise, trapped to our detriment. He urges us to remain vigilant through faithfulness to a life of trusting prayer and good works (implicit in a Christian life).

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! St. Paul reminds us to use our faith as a shield (Eph 6:17), remembering that the God of hope wants us to abound in hope (CCC 2657). Jesus wants us to be watchful and prayerful, in the hope of his second coming in glory (CCC 2612).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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