{"id":5319,"date":"2024-12-01T11:19:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T11:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5319"},"modified":"2024-12-15T13:30:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T13:30:27","slug":"commentary-on-the-1st-sunday-of-advent-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-1st-sunday-of-advent-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 1st Sunday of Advent (C) 1.12.2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

EXT<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Luke 21: 25\u201328, 34\u201336 \u2013 The Son of Man is coming.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

The Revised Standard Version [RSV] text is used in these commentaries.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Signs of End Times<\/strong><\/p>\n

[25] \u201cAnd there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity <\/em>\u00a0at the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.<\/em><\/p>\n

Redemption is Coming<\/strong><\/p>\n

[27] And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch at All Times<\/strong><\/p>\n

[34] \u201cBut take heed to yourselves <\/em>\u00a0lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation <\/em>\u00a0and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.<\/em><\/p>\n

[36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/h3>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. This is the First Sunday in Advent, the beginning of a new ecclesiastical year. Advent is described officially in the following words:<\/p>\n

\u201cAdvent has a twofold character: (i) as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ\u2019s first coming to us is remembered<\/em><\/strong>; (ii) as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ\u2019s Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar<\/em>, 39).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weekdays from 17 December to 24 December inclusive serve to prepare more directly for the Lord\u2019s birth.\u201d (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar<\/em>, 39).<\/p>\n

The Church divides Advent into two parts: The first part begins today and goes on until December sixteenth celebrating the second coming of Jesus; then the second part begins, stressing the preparation for the celebration of his first coming at his birth.<\/p>\n

2. The Gospel readings during this new ecclesiastical year are taken from St. Luke\u2019s gospel.<\/p>\n

[25] \u201cAnd there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there will be signs in sun and moon and stars<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These words refer to heavenly signs. Luke, quoting Jesus, does not describe what these signs will be. From the remainder of this verse we can surmise that these signs will be fearful for people.<\/p>\n

\u201cand upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity <\/em>\u00a0at the roaring of the sea and the waves<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These words refer to signs on earth. Some link these world upheavals with wars (Is. 5: 30) or with God\u2019s anger against certain people (Wid. 5: 22).<\/p>\n

\u201cmen fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Luke is the only evangelist who describes the psychological reaction of people to the signs of a world in upheaval.<\/p>\n

\u201cfor the powers of the heavens will be shaken<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is given as the fundamental cause of the signs mentioned. It is to be expected that \u201cthe powers of heaven will be shaken<\/em>\u201d at the coming of the Son of man into the world in his divinity because it will be so startling it will be like an earthquake, shaking everything. Some older readers may remember the expression \u201cthat shook you!\u201d<\/p>\n

[27] And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\u201d<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then they will see the Son of man<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThe Son of man<\/em>\u201d is a title that Jesus uses of himself. It is frequent in the Gospels and it refers to Jesus as sent by his Father to come into the world to preach, suffer, die and rise again. This passage adds that the \u201cSon of man<\/em>\u201d, Jesus, will come in his divinity and power at the end of time. The title is used twice in this passage.<\/p>\n

coming in a cloud<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cCloud<\/em>\u201d was a symbol of the presence of God. In the Old Testament the \u201ccloud<\/em>\u201d revealed the presence of God by veiling the transcendence of his glory. Examples are when he spoke with Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24: 15-18), at the tent of meeting (Ex. 33: 9-10), during the forty years wandering in the wilderness (Ex. 40: 36-38), at the dedication of the Temple (I Kgs 8: 10-12), at the \u201covershadowing of Mary by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1: 35), on the Mount of Transfiguration when the Father spoke from the \u201ccloud<\/em>\u201d (Lk.:9: 34-35), when Jesus ascended into the cloud at the ascension (Lk. 21: 27).<\/p>\n

\u201cwith power and great glory<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cPower<\/em>\u201d was also associated with Jesus, as was \u201cglory<\/em>\u201d. Jesus will come with divine power and in divine glory.<\/p>\n

Luke wrote frequently of the coming of the Son of man (Lk. 9: 26; 11: 29-32; 12: 8-9, 40; 17: 22-37; 18: 8).<\/p>\n

\u201cNow when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The meaning is: do not lower your heads in sorrow or dejection; raise them high in hope and joy. What is happening is to your advantage and your redemption. Jesus is coming for you.<\/p>\n

Luke tells the story of the woman who \u201chad a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself<\/em>\u201d. The leader in the synagogue objected to Jesus curing her on the Sabbath. Jesus retorted, \u201cOught not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed <\/em>[liberated] from this bond on the Sabbath Day?<\/em>\u201d (Lk. 13: 11, 16). She could now stand erect and hold her head on high. She had been redeemed and liberated.<\/p>\n

\u201cbecause your redemption is drawing near.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The word \u201credemption<\/em>\u201d means to \u2018buy back\u2019. God did not have to \u201cbuy back\u201d sinful people from any power. The Old Testament preferred to speak of God \u201cliberating<\/em>\u201d his People. This explains the two different translations given here.<\/p>\n

The words in verses 27 and 28 contrast with the words in verses 25 and 26. In these latter two verses people and nations are described as terrified and full of fright because they will not understand what will happen. Verses 27 and 28 are full of hope and confidence for Jesus\u2019 followers. They will know who is coming and why \u2014 to liberate and redeem them. They will be filled with joy.<\/p>\n

[34] \u201cBut take heed to yourselves <\/em>\u00a0lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBut take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life<\/em>\u201d \u2014 In spite of the hope and joy at the thought of the Second Coming of Jesus, people have to be vigilant and not fall into the way of sin. The Second Coming will be unexpected so one cannot be unprepared at any time.<\/p>\n

A similar idea was expressed forcefully earlier: (Lk. 12: 42-48).<\/p>\n

\u201cand cares of this life<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Because of their involvement in the \u201ccares of life<\/em>\u201d the people in Noah\u2019s time did nothing to save themselves. So likewise the residents of Sodom (Lk. 17: 26-30). These \u201ccares<\/em>\u201d choke the word of God (Lk. 8: 14; 10: 41; 12: 22, 25, 26).<\/p>\n

\u201cand that day come upon you suddenly like a snare<\/em>\u201d \u2014 A trap to catch animals snaps suddenly and unexpectedly (Lk. 12: 40).<\/p>\n

\u201cfor it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth<\/em>\u201d \u2014 No one will be exempt from this event.<\/p>\n

[36] \u201cBut watch<\/em> at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBut watch<\/em> at all times<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus is speaking and he calls all people to be vigilant for the signs of the last times. He offers two pieces of advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cpraying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place<\/em>\u201d \u2014A major theme in Luke is prayer. Here Jesus calls on people so that they may be strengthened to take necessary precautions before the disasters approach. The reference is to the prayer of petition, an additional frequent theme in Luke (Lk. 5: 12; 8: 28, 38; 9: 38, 40; 10: 40; 22: 32).<\/p>\n

\u201cand to stand<\/em> before the Son of man.\u201d<\/em> \u201d \u2014 The second need for prayer is that people will live lives worthy of God now so that they may appear before the Son of man in a worthy condition with clear consciences.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first and main application must always concern Jesus. The main purpose of each Gospel is to describe Jesus for us and what his intentions are. This passage tells us that he is the Son of man who will come at the end of time in his divinity, power and glory. The heavens and the earth will be strongly shaken as in an earthquake. The signs will be frightening. Jesus is not coming to frighten. He does nothing frightening. He comes as power to strengthen and as glory to give joy and excite. He reveals his divinity. He tells us that he comes with great Good News \u2014 he is coming to redeem and liberate us from all that binds and keeps us from living in his presence of glory. What he wishes to instill in us is firm hope, the gift of the theological virtue of hope.<\/p>\n

2. Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hope is the virtue most associated with Advent. It is the \u2018Season of Hope\u2019. It is worth reading The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> on the theological virtue of hope. Article 1817 tells us that \u201cHope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ\u2019s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit\u201d.<\/p>\n

Article 1818 adds: \u201cThe virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men\u2019s activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity\u201d.<\/p>\n

3. Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final verse in the Gospel passage asks us to pray for the strength to avoid anything that might deprive us of the Kingdom of God. There is no greater prayer for this than the Lord\u2019s Prayer which contains \u201cthe summary of everything that hope leads us to desire\u201d. (CCC<\/em>, 1820)<\/p>\n

Article 2771 reads, \u201cThe Lord\u2019s Prayer is the proper prayer of \u2018the end-time,\u2019 the time of salvation that began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and will be fulfilled with the Lord\u2019s return. The petitions addressed to our Father, as distinct from the prayers of the old covenant, rely on the mystery of salvation already accomplished, once for all, in Christ crucified and risen\u201d.<\/p>\n

Article 2772 continues, \u201cFrom this unshakeable faith springs forth the hope that sustains each of the seven petitions, which express the groanings of the present age, this time of patience and expectation during which \u2018it does not yet appear what we shall be\u2019. The Eucharist and the Lord\u2019s Prayer look eagerly for the Lord\u2019s return, \u2018until he comes.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Note<\/em>: Here is a special personal comment. See how simple and complete is the above quotation from The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em>. I recommend that you peruse this masterpiece as much as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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