“Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
1st SUN ADVENT C
Once again in today’s gospel we get a frightening description of the end of the world when Jesus would come as judge. However we are advised us not to fear but stand erect.
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon 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.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”
Jeremiah gives a similar advice in the first reading when he says that not only are we to be brave but even to be happy when Jesus would appear.
“The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.” Jer 33:14-16
Although the advice is the same which is to be joyous, the time that Jeremiah and Jesus talk about are different. In the gospel Jesus talks of His last coming, While Jeremiah talks of the first coming of the promised Messiah. But whether Jesus is coming as Messiah for the first time or as Judge for the last time, one must be happy.
The reason is simple: every coming of the Lord is a joyful news. But only to the just How to be just? We are advised once more this time by St. Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians:
“to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.” 1 Thes 3:12—4:2
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