First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024

2024 Dec 1 SUN: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Jer 33: 14-16/ Ps 25: 4-5. 8-9. 10. 14 (1b)/ 1 Thes 3: 12 -- 4: 2/ Lk 21: 25-28. 34-36

I have been thinking about how the events of our life present a variety of contrasts. Things we may desire, things we may not desire so much.

Yesterday I have to say I was not happy to see the snow come, Although I know that many people like to see the snow. For me it's one more thing to get through and try to live with. 

On the other hand, my nephew scored three touchdowns yesterday.

So this is how we all experience life. It's a series of things.

And I think especially the good things just take us by surprise. And we understand that we do not have to be the ones who die of fright, as Jesus says in the Gospel today. In fact all the Scriptures today are very encouraging.

We have the promise from Jeremiah. This is really a promise and a prophecy related to Jesus. The last shoot shall come to establish justice. 

And likewise St. Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians that they can look forward to what God is bringing.

Again we think of what is coming as something to dread. We can look back two weeks.

You never actually find in the Scriptures the term "the end of the world." But we have that popular notion. And of course most of the time when we hear the word "end" we think that something is over. It is not proceeding further.

And in fact all these blessings that we find in the midst of our sufferings are hints. They are pointing to something far greater than ourselves.

And really the season of Advent is about the good things that are coming to be. As we witness and recognize the fullness of God's Kingdom.

We know that here and now we struggle. So that God's grace might be at work within us. So that we might not be working against ourselves. Allowing the very life of God to show its love and its general goodness in what we do.

So as we enter upon this season we remember that even as we prepare to celebrate the humble coming of our Savior, we look ahead to His glorious coming and realize, "No, we don't have to die of fright." We can be the ones who welcome everything that our God intends to work for us and give to us.