Fr. Eduardo Emilio Aguero, scj
1st Sunday of Advent – Year C
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Advent is a time of joyful preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus. On one hand, we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Son of God who became man in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The advent of the Messiah, born in a manger in Bethlehem of Judah, the hometown of David, opens the doors of salvation for all peoples. On the other hand, during this time, we also look forward to the second coming in glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The readings for this first Sunday of Advent set the tone for how we should prepare for the birth of the Savior of the World: Advent is a time of preparation through prayer, vigilance, and penance.
In the first reading (Jr 33:14-16), the prophet announces the time when God will fulfill the promise He made to David through the prophet Nathan, that from his lineage would come a king who will reign forever (2 Sam 7:1-17). Jeremiah speaks of the “a just shoot” whom the Lord will “rise from David”, who will act justly. The justice of God was manifest in Jesus, the Son of God, who came to guide the humble in the ways of mercy and friendship (Ps 25,8-14) Moreover, He justified us with His self-offering on the cross. This is how He fulfills Jeremiah’s prophecy: “He shall do what is right and just in the land.” God’s justice is our salvation, the wonderful work of His mercy.
In the Gospel, Jesus refers to the day of His second coming “on the clouds.” Jesus frequently uses the title “Son of Man” to refer to Himself. This title comes from two sources in the Old Testament. Firstly, in the book of Ezekiel, the Lord calls the prophet by this title to show him his fragility and nature as dependent on the power and love of the Creator (cf. Ez 2:1; 2:8; 3:1). Secondly, the prophet Daniel has a vision in which he sees one “like a son of man” (Dan 7:13) coming on the clouds before the presence of the “Ancient of Days”. These two mentions of the “Son of Man” show the two moments of the manifestation of the Word of God: first, sharing our human fragility, and in His second coming, clothed in His divine glory.
Jesus reveals to His disciples that on that day, the world as they know it will undergo a total transformation that will cause panic and desolation in those who live a vain, meaningless life, stuck in their own concerns and drowned in their anxiety. This day, which should be a day of joy for the faithful ones, will surprise many as an inevitable tribulation. It will be too late! Their greatest torment will be realizing they have wasted their lives on what is worthless, meaningless, on pastimes, and selfish purposes! Jesus uses the image of a mind dulled by drunkenness to show how we could be blinded by incoherence and self-deceit to the point of losing our way and our direction in life, which in the Bible is called “sin”.
So, what can we do to avoid this catastrophe? Here come the three imperatives of the Lord to His disciples:
“Stand erect and raise your heads!” For those who have welcomed God’s love, this day is a time of glory and redemption. Therefore, preparation during Advent involves a joyful longing for the coming of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness.” During Advent, the Church invites us to be sober and honest. We are called to be humble and sincere with ourselves, the Lord, and our community. The sacrament of reconciliation is a precious gift that helps us in this regard and encourages us to pray with the psalmist: “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths” (Ps 25:4).
“Be vigilant at all times and pray…!” Vigilance helps us become aware of our weakness and that our strength comes from the Lord. As St. Paul says in 2 Cor 12:10, it’s when he acknowledges his weakness, that God’s power is manifested in him. To be able to stand erect when the Lord returns, or, to “please the Lord” (1 Thess 4:1), the apostle exhorts the Thessalonians not to stop growing in love, not to stagnate. Although, according to what Timothy had reported to Paul, they had grown much, Paul urges them to grow even more.
Advent is a time for prayer and meditation on the Word, the same Word that the apostle St. Paul and his companions had preached to the Thessalonians: “We constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (1 Thess 2:13).
Advent is a time of grace, a time to awaken to the love of the Lord who comes, to make room for Him in our hearts, families, parishes, and society. Come, Lord Jesus!
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