FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(Isaiah 63:16-17.19,64:2-7; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37)
As our testimony to the presence of the Lord after
consecration, we say, "Come, Lord Jesus." This coming at the end of
times has been called the “Parousia.” This Greek word signifies the visit of a
king or a powerful person to the people of a certain place. In the Eucharist we
recognize that Christ is present in a sacramental form, but we want him to be
present in a total way so that we see his face, touch his arm, and hear his
voice. It will be the culmination of our experience as Christians and the end
of history.
The first reading comes from the third part of the prophet
Isaiah. It shows that we are not the
first to wait for the coming of the Lord. Here the Jews have returned from
exile in Babylon. Their nation was crushed by the Babylonians. Now they have to
start over. They want God to once again help them so that the days of glory
return to the people. Without an adequate conception of personal life
transcending death the most they could hope for was the independence and high
stature of Israel among the nations of the world.
In the second reading Paul expresses an awareness of eternal
life. Because of what happened to Jesus Christ on the third day of his death,
the apostle knows that the resurrection is the destiny of those who trust in
Jesus. He says that God's gifts have equipped the Corinthians so that they can
live without sin until the Parousia. At that time he will reclaim his people from
the dust of the earth to give them a place in heaven.
The gospel gives the Lord's last teaching to his disciples
before his passion. It touches on the need for vigilance for the Parousia. The
disciples have to be prepared, which is the right meaning of “watch”. They will
prepare themselves by living as attentive servants doing good. They should not sleep
like vagabonds doing whatever they want.
We have to admit that few of us today await the Parousia
with great anticipation. Our myopia does not allow us to see much further than
our own deaths. We think that in death our souls will live with Christ in glory
and that this is all that matters. Our loved ones who have also passed through
the terror of death will be close to us. Our misunderstanding is rooted in the
lack of adequate appreciation of the human being. We think of him or her as a
soul imprisoned in a body. According to this error the soul can exist quite
well without “this mortal coil” as Prince Hamlet called the body.
But the body is much more than a wire that holds our spirit.
Whether beautiful or ugly, strong or sick, our body is part of us for which we
should be grateful. Only with the body can we see and touch, hear and smell.
Without our bodies, we would be as limited as prisoners in solitary
confinement. Without our bodies it may be possible to exist in proximity to loved
ones, but we would not be able to touch or kiss them. We could possibly
communicate with them in a sense, but we would not be able to hear their voices.
At most the experience will be like a Zoom meeting that gives some
satisfaction, but in no way is it the same as the presence of others face to
face.
We should look forward to the coming of Christ with great
anticipation for two reasons. First, according to biblical testimonies it will
be immediately preceded by the resurrection of our bodies from the dust of the
earth so that we can hug, kiss, and talk with our loved ones. Second and even
more tremendous, will be the experience of knowing Christ fully, face to face
and shoulder to shoulder.
Therefore, we should wait on tiptoe for the coming of
Christ. May it be before the end of the year, God willing. Anyway, we say with
the early Christians, “Marana tha,” that is, “Our Lord, come.”
