Vol. 5, No.12 DoM Gospel Reflection
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
November 29, 2015 – The First Sunday of Advent, Year C
by Elizabeth Diehl
In previous years, I have been graciously asked by Janet Druhan and Audrey Patterson to do a commentary. In August, Deborah just looked at me and said “Go tell Mary which Sunday you want.” It actually made me feel good-I had been around long enough to be told rather than asked. It was a pretty smart thing on Deborah’s part because I doubt I would have volunteered on my own.
My choices were the five Sundays of November. The procrastinator in me picked the fifth Sunday…the first Sunday of Advent. I had already done 2 Advent reflections -John the Baptist and our very own Mary, so how bad could the first Sunday be? Oh, only the ultimate apocalypse and the end of the world! Each year, I have seen God’s sense of humor firsthand in my reflections…but this year was exceptionally funny. It was a month ago that Anna Luce stood up and said how wonderful it was that beautiful Leslie spoke on the Beatitudes…I literally laughed out loud – I had chosen the apocalypse! Then 2 weeks ago, it got even funnier…Kathleen spoke so eloquently of the apocalypse. Just last Tuesday, Catherine mentioned the end of the world in the first and second readings. I certainly had my work cut out for me.
This Sunday is the beginning of Advent or “the coming of Christ”. On this Sunday, we are concerned with not just one coming of Christ, but actually two comings. Not only are we preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas or the First Advent, but we are also preparing for the second coming when all will be judged or the Second Advent. Each year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the Gospel tells us to watch for the second coming of Jesus. We are to be watchful, pray constantly and stand secure for Advent is a season of vigilant waiting. While I was researching this Gospel, I came across an interesting comment from an unknown author …those who are not watching, are not praying…and those who are not praying, are not watching. The two go hand in hand. Jesus says we are to stay awake and pray and prepare to meet him.
Taking a closer look at Sunday’s Gospel, Verse 25 proclaims the apocalypse-a cosmic disturbance of the sun, moon and stars. In ancient times, people believed that when God acted, these celestial bodies would be disturbed. We all know how the moon can affect the tides…what could the sun or stars do if either or both were off kilter?
Verse 26 continues by striking fear in us as it mentions people dying in sheer expectation of what is to happen.” The powers of the heavens will be shaken”… I envision earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tidal waves-every possible weather event happening simultaneously.
Verse 27 says it all “They will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.” Consider this vision in stark contrast to Jesus’ death on the cross… with neither power nor glory. I cannot take credit for making this incredible contrast, as I read it in one of the many articles I researched for this reflection.
Verse 28 stresses for man to look upward, to heaven, to God, and to his strength.
We skip to verse 34 which mentions several reasons that would cause us to be distracted or caught off guard. First, carousing, or as my mother called it, “running around”. Secondly, drunkenness or the act of numbing oneself to remove any possibility of feelings. Lastly, the anxieties of daily life…does this sound remotely familiar? All three of these affect both our mind and heart, while clouding our spirituality.
Verses 35 and 36 clearly state that on Judgment Day, all on earth will be violently attacked. That is not to say, all will die. For those who have prayed, believed, and lived a life of God’s work, they will be given the strength to escape the end of the world. The words “to stand before the Son of Man” means to be acquitted and found in favor. We await our own judgment…no one knows when it will be…either at our death or at the last coming of our Lord.
Having said all of that, doesn’t it seem ironic that we would start the liturgical year with the end of the world? ☺ Once again, I cannot take credit.
Believe it or not, this Gospel actually spoke to me. In August, my life was more than a little upside down at the time…my nest was newly empty, I was battling some inner turmoil, I just wasn’t myself and I wasn’t happy. In the great scheme of things, it was nothing major but it was unsettling for me. For the record, I was not drowsy from carousing and drunkenness☺, but rather “the anxieties of daily life.” I was overwhelmed with worrying about my children at college. I had lost my focus and my spiritual rudder was literally out of the water. So when I started working on this reflection, I got a head start on Advent, I began a new year for me, and I just started over. I reset everything, and I wiped my slate clean.
Of the three distractions Luke mentioned in his Gospel, I am quite sure that most of us have the hardest time with the anxieties of daily life. While I know the Bible is certainly a far superior source of calming words, I have been saving a few thoughtful comments from all places…Facebook…that I have read since I started this reflection. I have attributed all quotes, but for the sake of staying fluid, I will not read the authors’ names now. Please close your eyes, listen carefully and see if any of these speak to you.
“Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” (Zig Ziegler)
“Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place” (unknown)
“In order to be comforted, you must first be uncomfortable” (unknown)
“God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle and a reward for your faithfulness. Trust him and don’t give up. When you are most stressed, it’s usually when you are trying to figure everything out on your own. When you are most at peace, it’s when you remind yourself that God is in control and He’s got everything figured out already. Worrying accomplishes nothing and faith accomplishes much” (Dave Willis)
“ We all go through hard times. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. The happiest people are those have worked through their struggles with faith and perseverance even through their tears and pain. They refuse to give up, so the struggles only make them stronger.” (Dave Willis)
Also, the words of Father Charles Irvin helped me to start over, to begin again. “Out of sync with the rest of the world, out of sync with the academic semesters, the financial year, the calendar year, and yes, the sports cycle, the Church will begin a new year on Sunday. He continues “Our big picture is set between beginnings and endings that are set in another world, between the first coming of God to us in Jesus Christ and His second coming, one that will complete the movement initiated by his first coming.”
Lastly, Arthur Dewey is quoted “Each Advent signals a return to the beginning, but it is always a new beginning”
So, as we prepare for this season of Advent…do not get caught up in the mad rush of Christmas, do not get thrown into a “financial feeding frenzy”. Do not let the “daily anxieties” creep into your life. For each of us, Daughters of Mary….we can begin anew…start over…we are given another chance to make a new path…or if you are lucky enough to be like our beloved DOM Helen Robinson, you can just continue on her path because she had it all figured out ☺…we can put our spiritual rudder back in the water(which I have done and I am much more appreciative of all that I have) We get a do-over of last year…anything is possible with God’s grace, assistance, and faithfulness on our part.
And remember how lucky we are…because of our Catholic faith, Christmas day is not an end, but a beginning. And beginnings are good…
Sources:
Magnificat November 2015
www.usccb.com
Facebook
www.biblefocus.net
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