FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Of What is Coming Upon the World

Rejoice and be glad, for our Lord is coming. Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. The word advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means coming. This is the beginning of a new liturgical year where we anticipate the celebrated birth of Jesus and prepare ourselves for His coming.

Yet, in this week’s Gospel Jesus speaks to His disciples of chaos and catastrophe: “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” (Luke 21:25-26).

What is Jesus saying? Perhaps He is telling us that on earth nothing stays the same, nothing lasts. Our possessions, our feelings, the politics of our nation are all passing. Yet, in Thessalonians we hear “... we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more” (1 Thes 4:1). One reading tells us of coming chaos, while another tells us to walk our lives in a way that pleases God.

For many of us, we must witness the collapse of our own personal kingdoms, our way of life, before we awaken to and surrender ourselves and our lives to the Kingdom of God. The lyrics to a song comes to mind, “Dust in the Wind.” I close my eyes only for a moment, and the moment's gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity. Dust in the wind. All they are is dust in the wind.

During this Advent season, let's shift our focus from the chaos of this passing world with its fleeting and short-term satisfactions and pleasures. Instead, let us turn our focus to the Son of Man who reveals the love of God in our lives. While things of this earthly life are all passing, God stays. His presence and love for us is greater than whatever chaos we may experience in this life.

As today’s responsorial psalm says, “Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day” (Ps 25:4-5).

Let’s ask God that we may be reasonably happy in this life, firm in our faith, joyful in hope, active in charity and supremely happy with Him forever.

How will you be spiritually preparing yourself for the coming of the Lord this Advent?

–Jennifer Peña

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.