Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy 

from carousing and drunkenness 

and the anxieties of daily life, 

and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.

For that day will assault everyone

who lives on the face of the earth.

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, during this season of Advent, I want to watch and pray. I want to be prepared for the coming, the advent, of your Son, Jesus Christ. Do not let me be overcome by sinful habits or the cares of this world. I want to be good soil that welcomes your word and bears abundant, supernatural fruit.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The First Advent of Jesus in Humility: Advent is the liturgical season when we prepare for the first and second coming (Latin: adventus) of Jesus. The First Reading from Jeremiah prophecies the coming of a “righteous branch” from the royal family tree of David. What this future royal descendant of David, this shepherd-king, will bring is righteousness. “The shepherd who is coming will be the Lord God, who will deliver his people and direct them in righteousness. The shepherd who is coming will also be a descendant of David, who will rule, save, and bring peace. He will be a ruler, yet ‘humble’ as he arrives (Zechariah 9:9)” (Prothro, The Bible and Reconciliation, 115). His coming will bring redemption, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The shepherd will defend and lead the people against sin, pour out God’s Spirit, and bring about God’s ultimate defeat of death. In Jesus Christ, “God himself will come to his people, to bring salvation to Israel and call the nations to repentance. He will deliver those captive to the powers of sin and death. He, as the Good Shepherd, will give his life for his flock and inaugurate the New Covenant, bringing forgiveness and renewal for sin-sick hearts through his own Spirit. And this one Shepherd, both Davidic and divine, will appoint many under-shepherds over his people to administer his gifts of forgiveness and renewal in the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ (2 Corinthians 5:18)” (Prothro, The Bible and Reconciliation, 115).

2. The Second Advent of Jesus in Glory: The Gospel contemplates Jesus’ second coming in glory at the end of time. Jesus calls himself the “Son of Man” and refers to a prophecy from Daniel 7:13-14 about the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds of heaven to receive the everlasting kingdom from God. Jesus’ death on the Cross in A.D. 30 and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 were events that pointed forward to the end of the world. Jesus’ words about the darkening of the sun, the moon, and the stars refer back to Old Testament prophecies like Joel 3:3-4 and Isaiah 13:10. “Jesus speaks about a cosmic blackout when he prophesies the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the world … as does the Book of Revelation (6:12; 8:12)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Isaiah, 38). At Jesus’ death, there was darkness over the land. Since the Temple was a microcosm of the universe and had symbols of the sun, the moon, and the stars within it, its destruction meant the end of the old creation. The sun, moon, and stars were all connected to time: the gradual movement of the stars signaled the year, the phases of the moon signaled the month, and the cycle of the sun signaled the day. When these powers of the heavens are ultimately shaken, time will cease, and the glorious Son of Man will definitively establish the new creation in its fullness.

3. Be Blameless in Holiness this Advent: In the Gospel, Jesus warns us to be prepared for his coming. We can’t let our hearts be weighed down with dissipation (unbridled, pleasureful indulgence), drunkenness (and other sins). Nor can we let the worries, cares, and anxieties of this life overcome our hearts. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians also exhorts us to grow in charity and be blameless in holiness in preparation for the second coming (advent) of our Lord Jesus. Paul asks the Christian community to live according to the instructions that he gave them. These instructions asked them to abstain from sexual immorality and live chaste lives.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate your first advent in humility. There is so much to learn from you, things like your simplicity, your self-giving, your poverty, your hiddenness, and your love. I eagerly await your second advent in glory at the end of time. I long for the day when you will definitively conquer all evil and wipe away every tear! Come, Lord Jesus!

Living the Word of God: How am I receiving Jesus’ and Paul’s exhortations today? At the beginning of the Advent season, is my heart weighed down with sinful pleasure or the cares of daily life? How can I grow in charity and the virtue of chastity this month?