Sunday Meditation: The Signs Point to Jesus

This Sunday we come to a new liturgical year, the year of St. Luke’s Gospel, Year C in the calendar, and with it comes Advent.  In Year A, the key words for the first Sunday of Advent was “Stay awake,” and in Year B “Be watchful,” but in Year C we could discern the key words to be “There will be signs.”  These signs point to one thing, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ and His coming.

 

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.”

~Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

I’m going to have three videos for you today to fully grasp Advent and the importance of signs in today’s Gospel reading.  First, Dr. Brant Pitre explains Advent.

So consider as Dr. Pitre explains an Advent penitential exercise. 

Dr. Scott Hahn has a free Advent series that you can sign up for, and his introductory video further expands on Dr. Pitre’s explanation of Advent, and certainly worthy of watching.

 

So Christ’s coming is actually threefold.  This coming is not just at Christmas, nor just at the end of times, but every day with being in His presence.  You can sign up for Dr. Hahn’s the free course here.  

Finally to understand what the “signs” signify, Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. from the Encyclopedia Catholic Theology explains it.

If you didn’t quite catch it, Fr. Cajetan said, “So in the context of ominous signs, our Lord calls us to heed Himself, from ominous signs to the salvific reality and identity of Jesus, the Son of Man…”  That is quite an observation.  The signs are important but ultimately the reality of Jesus is the more important thing. 

 

Sunday Meditation: "Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

The Piano Guys have a great rendition on Piano and Cello of “O Come O Come Emanuel.”

 

Have blessed Advent.

Sunday Meditation: Be Watchful!

Today we start Year B of the liturgical calendar with the Gospel of Mark as the centerpiece of the readings.  Today also starts a new season, Advent.  The USCCB explains the season: “Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.”  But, the closing of one year with the merging of the new signal both the coming of Christ at the end of times and the coming of His incarnation.  It really has a double meaning, and so we get this Gospel reading.

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be watchful! Be alert!

You do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man traveling abroad.

He leaves home and places his servants in charge,

each with his own work,

and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.

Watch, therefore;

you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,

whether in the evening, or at midnight,

or at cockcrow, or in the morning.

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

~Mk 13:33-37

What are you to watch for?  The Lord’s arrival!  As Jeff Cavins so eloquent says: “The Lord is coming.  He came, His is coming, He will come.” 

 

I say He is coming into your heart, and so be prepared for Him to stay.

Meditation: "Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming.”

As a bonus, I offer “O Come Emmanuel” arranged and performed by Chris Tomlin.

 

That is just lovely.

Sunday Meditation: Are You the One Who Is to Come?

It’s wonderful when all four readings connect and relate to each other.  I’m not going to pull that together for you.  You’ll have to do that yourself.  Here is the Gospel.

 

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,

he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,

"Are you the one who is to come,

or should we look for another?"

Jesus said to them in reply,

"Go and tell John what you hear and see:

the blind regain their sight,

the lame walk,

lepers are cleansed,

the deaf hear,

the dead are raised,

and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

 

As they were going off,

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,

"What did you go out to the desert to see?

A reed swayed by the wind?

Then what did you go out to see?

Someone dressed in fine clothing?

Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.

Then why did you go out?  To see a prophet?

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.

Amen, I say to you,

among those born of women

there has been none greater than John the Baptist;

yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

~Mt 11:2-11

 

What a strange question: Are you the one who is to come?  Well, anyone would have said yes.  I would have answered sure with full bravado.  But would anyone else have answered the way Jesus answered it?  Actually could anyone else have answered as Jesus did?  Dr. Brant Pitre explains why.

Isn’t it interesting that after Jesus answers if he is the one, he speaks about John the Baptist as being the one who is to come: “This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.”