THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(A biblical reflection on the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year C] – 2 December 2018)
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28,34-36
First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalms: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; Second Reading: 1Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2
The Scripture Text
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on 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. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
“But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:25-28,34-36 RSV)
Unlike the calendar year, which begins on January 1, the Church’s liturgical year begins on the first Sunday of Advent. Each new Church year uses a different set of Sunday Scripture readings.
Most of the Gospel readings for the Sundays of the next twelve months will be from the Gospel according to Luke. So let’s begin this liturgical year by examining what we know about the author of this Gospel.
Scripture scholars are certain the author of Luke’s Gospel also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, a book about the early Church. However, nowhere in either of these writings does the author tell us his name. Irenaeus, a bishop living at the end of the second century, was the first to identify the author as Luke, a companion of St. Paul.
Epistles attributed to Paul mention Luke three times and one of these passages calls him a physician, meaning he probably made salves and other medicines out of herbs and roots. Luke was not an apostle and, therefore, was not eyewitness to the events he records.
Scripture scholars believe Luke probably wrote his Gospel around 85 A.D. and, like the Acts of the Apostles, he addressed it to a man called Theophilus, a name meaning “friend of God”. Some biblical scholars suggest Theophilus may haave been a wealthy nobleman who provided the papyrus scroll (quite expensive in those days) on which Luke wrote the Gospel but other scholars hypothesize he was not a real person at all but was a character Luke created as a symbol of all Christians who were friends of God.
Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus talking about the end of the world (another example of the same apocalyptic writing style we found in the Gospel reading a couple weeks ago) and it warns us to remain watchful and pray constantly because the great day when Jesus will return will suddenly close in on us. We should not be caught unprepared.
Most of us usually associate Advent with getting for the arrival of the baby Jesus but that’s not what this liturgical season is all about. The soft and cuddly baby born in a manger has already come and gone. Today’s Gospel tells us to prepare for Jesus’ second coming, His arrival as the triumphant ruler of the universe. Therefore, during Advent, Christians should anxiously prepare for the return of the adult Jesus.
(Adapted from Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 232-233.)
Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me prepare for the coming of Your Son. I want to accept the grace that He won for me. During this season of expectation, fill my heart with Your love and my mind with Your truth. Amen.