God's Dreams for us

 First Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): November 28, 2021

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

To listen to my video reflections please click here

Who does not like to make promises? But the question must be who keeps the promises diligently. The liturgical readings of this Sunday tell us very boldly that God is the one who makes promises moreover keeps them as well. Both the Old and the New Testaments give us a number of assurances and promises and God who fulfils them adequately and fully. As we enter into the Season of Advent, where we prepare to greet the birth of Jesus at Christmas, the promises and the hopes that surround our Lord's coming into our midst become very solid and valid for us. We are in the great season of expectant waiting. Today's Gospel reminds us, we are all waiting in hope for the day when Jesus comes again. Perhaps, we can ask ourselves straightaway what are we especially hoping for in these coming weeks. 

1. Cosmic changes are a sign that God is in control of us. 

When those unusual changes take place in the cosmos like chaos and instability, turmoil in the skies, roaring seas, distress among the nations and terrified people, Jesus says to his disciples "look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). In the midst of confusion and anxiety, God is present. What is that redemption, Jesus is talking about? Jesus is speaking about the redemption of humanity from the clutches of sin, suffering, destruction and evil. In the saving act of humanity, even the cosmos will be reacting in an extraordinary way. In other words, the whole of God's creation is in action in the process of granting salvation to humanity because God is coming down upon the earth with all His glory and power. Therefore, in everything - human, animal and plant world - the cosmic forces will be acting out their role in welcoming and giving a sign that the saviour is coming in glory. 

As we make our way into the Season of Advent, countries in the Nothern Hemisphere are entering into winter season whereby already by three o'clock in the afternoon they will notice the darkness. Countries like India also enter into the season of winter in a more powerful way as the Northern parts of India will be reeling under cold as well as snow. In fact, such cosmic changes do tell us that God is in control of us. We might be able to change the timing in our watches with "Daylight Saving Time" (the tradition of moving clocks forward during the summer months as it is known) but other cosmic changes will not be possible to be stopped by us. It is only God who is in control of such a phenomenon.

2. Advent is a time to see the world in its beauty than in its despair

Since 2020, the world is reeling under the pressure of the Covid pandemic. The feeling of despair and hopelessness often stand before our eyes. Everyone is affected in these dark times of our lives. As we enter into the Season of Advent in such a difficult year, we are invited to strengthen our bond with the Lord our God. As a matter of fact, God says to us not be men and women of despair but be persons of courage and hope; try to see beauty and resilience in what seems to be dark and ugly. 

Perhaps the words of Pope Paul VI should encourage us: "This world in which we live needs beauty so as not to fall into despair." We might ask what is this beauty, the Pope is speaking about? It is not the beauty the world seems to entertain us, often, which is false and illusionary, empty and deceiving to our eyes. In fact, true beauty lies in that which is eternal and holy. This must be seen through the lenses of God. All the more, it is God who thought about the goodness and beauty in His creation. That is why He sent His only Son to bring humanity close to him. In the person of Jesus God participated in the stories of men and women, in the struggles and tribulations of humanity, in the joys and happiness of its creation.     

3. Advent is a time to reorient ourselves towards the heavens

The Church's liturgical calendar provides the necessary impetus to its people to reorient themselves to God. Hence we see a number of changes in the way the liturgical year has been divided to pray better based on its seasons. The Season of Advent helps us to understand the plan of God in its entirety. Because there is no resurrection without incarnation and vice versa. This is exactly what we see in the first reading of today. Prophet Jeremiah focuses our gaze on the promises made to David 1,000 years before Christ: "In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (Jeremiah 13:15). Similar promise we see in the Psalm that we sing today: “Guide me in your truth and teach me. For you are God my saviour and for you, I will wait all day” (Psalm 25:5).

The promises of God come to us with an intention to transform us. God does not leave us alone or keep us where we have been. Instead, He wants us to take us forward turning us into men and women of holy and anointed. The event of God's incarnation in the Second Person of the Trinity is a sign that God is in love with us. He wants to take us along in the redemptive work of bringing salvation to each one of His creation. In God's way of acting which seems to be robust and vigorous, He is continuing to watch us even though we may be scared to death. But Jesus says we should greet the end-times with heads raised high, confident that God keeps His promises, that our “redemption is at hand,” that “the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).

4. Advent is a time for a new level of meeting with the Lord

We are called to a new level of relationship with Jesus that invites us to companionship in deepening the reign of God on earth – as it is in heaven.  God is always faithful, never rejecting his covenant people – though they (and we) may turn from Him. There is always grace and judgement which fills us because of the love of God. God's simplicity could be seen in love, goodness, beauty, truth, justice and so forth. Jesus invites each one of us to fall in love, or more deeply in love, with him;  to find in him the completion of the greatest longings that one has.

Perhaps this is the time to challenge ourselves to awaken out of the habits that have blinded us to his endearing love.  But at the same time, we will also be challenged to love ourselves as we are, as God loves us, unconditionally.  We need to have the readiness to receive God’s mercy, and accept God’s healing so that we can enter the communion of the blessed and saints to whom we have been praying in this month of November. St Paul exhorts us that we are already a holy people, but we need to strive to be confirmed by God in holiness, in loving God by loving one another.  In our project of growing in holiness, we may not be obscured by other concerns and anxieties. May this Advent be a sure sign of hope in our striving towards God our Lord. We pray that this new liturgical year of the Church may help us to encounter Jesus face-to-face in our daily routine life powerfully.

Questions for Reflections:
1. What are my uppermost feelings today as I enter into the Season of Advent?
2. Where have been my orientation of life during these days of the year?
3. How do I like to prepare myself for this Season of Advent?
4. What’s your own first response on hearing that promise from God “justice and righteousness in the land”?

5. As you enter into this time of grace called Advent how you might prepare for Christmas in the days ahead?

Prayer:

O God, be present with me always, dwell within my heart. With your light and your Spirit guide my soul, my thoughts, and all my actions, that I may teach your Word, that your healing power may be in me and in all the saints of your global church.

Eternal Lord, let the Word of Christ richly dwell within me all this day; and whatever I do in word or deed, may I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

                                O Wisdom

Lord and Ruler

Root of Jesse

Key of David

Rising Son

King of the Nations

Emmanuel Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen. 

 

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

26 November 2021