Rev 22:1-7
Luke 21:34-36
Today is the last day of the year of the liturgical year, that is. Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent, the start of a new cycle in the Church year. The Church offers us the very last readings of the liturgical year and these readings also usher us into a new year of grace with the Advent season.
The first reading for this week has been taken from the book of Revelation which is known for its imagery of the end time-the parousia, the final hour. The book of revelation is a guarantee of promise; of hope assured and the fulfillment of the ages.
In today’s first reading, John’s vision presents the fulfillment of the ages, the reunion of all people and creation with the God of peace and joy everlasting in the heavenly bliss. God is the source, light and joy of heaven, and His coming to take us, should not frighten us but rather make us eager and ready to meet Him.
The psalm today also leans into the Advent refrain: Come Lord Jesus.
The Gospel for today has Jesus encouraging us to not be weighed down by the anxieties of life but to “have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” To live our faith is to live with joy. Why then do so many who profess their faith in God have so much anger and use so many vulgarities? Where is the joy that should be the outward sign of their Christian faith?
I believe that on this cusp of Advent we can stand tall and confident. We stand in hope and not despair. Certainly, each of us can point to all the things that can drag us down and wear us out. The senseless murders of guiltless people who are just living their lives. The explosion of those experiencing homelessness because they can’t afford rent or because of addiction. The degradation of the Earth. Political paralysis and religious extremism.
As we bid farewell to this liturgical year with the gospel of Luke as a guide in knowing and loving Jesus, we also welcome the new year starting with the advent season, the Gospel of Matthew will take us to Immanuel, God with us; He is always with us. We thank God for the inspiration and consolation that the message of the good news has brought to us.
The advent season is a season of vigilance and we know that we have not been vigilant enough especially in our weaknesses and imperfections; our fears and lack of caring these past years. We are tempted to distractions, avoidance and we may have hurt the hope of others. Today’s reading offers us the moment of gratitude and presents makes us immediately to offer those failures and neglects together with those whom we have failed into the hands of God and commit ourselves to a new start in this advent season.
The Lamb of God is coming back again to take us to paradise. Let us renew our spirit in this new season and stand secured in Christ and one day, we shall stand firm by the river side; the Son of God in His kingdom forever. We have not seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come!
Credit:
Fr Joseph Osho
