Reading today’s Gospel we could be forgiven for thinking we had dozed off, woken up, and it’s still the last Sunday of the year, the Feast of Christ the King, when we have a focus on the end of time and the final return of Jesus. Today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 21:25-28, 34-36) is indeed the exact parallel to one from Mark we heard two weeks ago in preparation for the end of the year.
So what gives? Did someone not get the memo, and forget to change the clock? We are supposed to be in Advent, leading up to Christmas, it’s all about beginnings, babies, Christmas trees…
There is for sure a cycle in the Church’s year. We reflect on the stages of Jesus’ life from birth to death, and what comes after. But it’s not like some spiritual Groundhog Day, where we simply spin round year after year in some endless loop. Each year is different, because we are different – another year of experiences, of achievements, of losses, of growth, of aging. The process of salvation continues.
In this process Advent is a time of anticipation. Yes we anticipate our celebration of the birth of the Christ-child, the birthday party and the presents that go with it. But we also anticipate a further coming of Christ, not as child but as king. We anticipate a world in which a just king is in control, as did Jeremiah (Jer 33:14-16). And that doesn’t happen easily. That justice is born from struggle, and difficulties, and even death. By linking the beginning of Advent to the Last Days, the Church reminds us that our Christmas season is not all about good cheer and good will to all. As Jesus notes, we can easily slip into a mindset where we loose focus and forget we must always be on the lookout for what is to come.
Paul encourages his young church community in Thessalonica (1 Thes 3:12—4:2): you know what you should be doing, and you are doing it, just do it more. Any sports coach would say the same. Yes it’s a new season – get to it …
And when the time comes we can “stand erect and raise our heads because our redemption is at hand.”