1st Sunday of Advent

My dear parishioners,

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

God sent Jeremiah to shape the people of Israel into an inspiring example of faith. The image of pottery making contributes to this theme. The word of God was placed in Jeremiah’s mouth to build the people up, just as a potter builds up a clump of clay into a work of art. Sadly, the people refused to accept Jeremiah’s words. The ideals he tried to instill in the hearts of Israel would be realized only later in time. This oracle describes those brighter days to come.

God will fulfill the promise made to David many centuries before. This promise came at the time David intended to build a house for God. But God sent the prophet Nathan to announce God would be the One doing any building of a house. David’s line would remain—even if individuals in that line failed. And so, in this reading, God will raise “a just shoot” in the royal family tree. Unlike so many who preceded him on the throne of David, this king will do what is right and just. Kings like Zedekiah allowed themselves to be guided by the limited thinking of their courtiers. This ideal king will be guided by the word of God.

Earlier kings sought to secure the kingdom by earthly means: wealth, arsenals, and alliances with other nations. The ideal king will secure the kingdom through a right relationship with the God of Israel. In an earlier oracle, Jeremiah warned that Jerusalem would be broken to pieces like a clay jar (19: 10-11). But with this ideal king, the danger of shattering to pieces will be removed. People will call Jerusalem “The Lord our justice,” which in Hebrew sounds very much like Zedekiah, the name of Israel’s last king.

The communities for which this Gospel was written were well aware that the great temple of Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The shock of that monumental event put both Christians and Jews on the watch. What might be next and what would be the signs?  Throughout his Gospel, Lk portrays Jesus as God’s innocent prophet. In the present passage, Jesus assumes that prophetic role as he points to several cosmic signs indicating the coming of redemption and the advent of the Son of Man. For Lk, this Son of Man is the Messiah.

The language used for such extraordinary occurrences is apocalyptic. Technically, this word means to uncover something that is hidden. This is language used to describe phenomena that are cosmic in scope and catastrophic in effect. Thus, apocalyptic language is dramatic, poetic, visionary, and symbolic. It is not intended to be understood literally. What is described here are portents that lie ahead in the future for Lk and his community. Much of the imagery found here is taken from the OT prophets. There are echoes of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Amos—all accentuating the nature of these events. All of it points to the dramatic advent of the Son of Man who will come in a cloud with power and great glory. This is imagery from Dn 7:13-14. What is being described here is nothing less than the advent of the day of the Lord.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

 Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius