Monday, December 8, 2014
Advent Reflections
Christian Formation Commission


Thank you for continuing to journey with us through this season of Advent. You are now journeying together with people from in multiple dioceses - almost 700 people in all. As we come together in reflection and prayer, we join our voices in praise as we await the joyful coming.

 Scripture

 

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. 


 

Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


 

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, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 

   
Luke 21:20-28 

 

Reflection

   

I can never get past how the "Day of the Lord," or the second coming of Christ, or "Judgement Day," sounds just like every day in our 21st century world.  Jerusalem is "surrounded by armies," there is mighty "distress among the nations," people may not "faint in fear," but they certainly live in fear for a multitude of reasons, and most of us can relate to a sense of "foreboding of what is coming upon the world."  What Luke's gospel reports as a one-time, cataclysmic event of salvation seems remarkably similar to our present-day experience, minus the "Son of Man coming in a cloud."

 

...which is why I often want to change our liturgical declaration from "Christ will come again," to "Christ is always coming again."  Christ is not absent from the darkness and distress of our experience; rather, he is at the very heart of it.  Christ lives in human hearts, bringing light and compassion and patience and wisdom and courage and confidence to counter our distress and fear and foreboding.  Christ in us makes it possible for us to live in these trying times in ways that give life, in ways that encourage freedom, and in ways that make peace.

 

Christ is, indeed, coming again, in power and great glory, not to condemn the world but to save it.  Perhaps his constant presence, working with our faith, is what will save us when he comes in the cloud.  


 
Prayer  

 

Dear Jesus, help us to not be afraid.  Help us to trust in you and in the power of your love and guide us in the ways of freedom and peace.  Amen.

 

 

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