I Await Your Coming in Glory

I Await Your Coming in Glory

Lk 21: 25 – 28, 34 – 36

First Sunday of Advent

Introduction

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks about his coming in glory and power. He also tells us to await that day when he comes and to remain always watchful and prepared.

The Gospel

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about his coming in glory and power.

He tells 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. “ 

As Jesus describes it, the end will come accompanied by cosmological signs both in the heavens and on earth. Apparently, there will be great confusion among the nations, as nations will be in “ dismay and perplexed.” People would also die frightened as the entire universe is shaken up.

But these cosmological upheavals are meant only to herald and announce the coming of the Lord. Jesus himself describes how he would come, saying:  “ They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. “

So this means that Jesus will physically come back; hence the term “second coming.” Unlike his first coming, which was the day of his birth in Bethlehem, with only a few people being aware of it, the second coming of Jesus will no longer be hidden and unnoticed. He will come again with everyone witnessing him arriving in glory and power.

On one hand, as may be expected, Jesus’ coming, together with the cosmological upheavals that accompany him, will be met with fear and trembling. On the other hand, Jesus tells his disciples not to be afraid when that day comes. Instead, he tells them to stand erect and raise their heads because their redemption is at hand.

The Lord’s coming is not to be a day of fear for those who await the Lord. This is why Jesus admonishes his disciples and tells them to remain always vigilant and prepared when he comes, saying: “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.”

In saying this, Jesus wants his disciples to remain ready, steady and vigilant and not to be caught up by the concerns of daily life. Vigilance presupposes a certain level of awareness and alertness.

Jesus then tells his disciples: “ 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. “ The vigilance of the disciple will always be tested; trials and challenges await those who eagerly await the Lord’s coming. 

Reflection

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical calendar. The mood of this season is one of waiting; waiting for the arrival of someone.

And who is this whom we expect to arrive or come?

It is Jesus whom we expect to come. Jesus who has been raised from the dead, who has ascended into heaven and is now seated at the Father’s right hand, will come once more. And as our reading tells us, he is coming back not just in any ordinary way, but in glory and power, amidst the clouds of heaven.

The Lord’s coming will also signal the end of time. As Jesus himself tells us, the entire universe will be shaken up and apparently, the peoples of the earth will be in turmoil. Nature itself will no longer follow its normal course.

But as people who await the Lord, the end, with its accompanying terrifying signs, should not be a moment of fear. Instead, as Jesus tells us, it should be a moment when we could stand up erect and raise our heads in confidence not because the end is near, but because now, Jesus, the one whom we have waited for, is here with us at long last!

But we could only have such confident reception of the Lord’s coming only if we have awaited his coming. It is just like one who waits for a loved one who has been away for such a long time. When this loved one suddenly appears on your doorstep, imagine the excitement and the joy for the entire household!

Our waiting never tires and never gives up. We wait for the Lord even in the midst of trials and difficulties that we encounter in our daily lives. We continue to wait for him even if we don’t know when he will come. Our love, our faithfulness to the Lord will make us wait for him. And we know that when we wait for him, we will never be disappointed.

Our waiting for the Lord then, becomes like an eternal flame of hope that burns within our hearts. Those who wait for the Lord, will never lose hope. Those who wait for the Lord will always have this joy inside of them because they know that someday, the Lord shall fulfill his promise of salvation. Our waiting simply increases our hope and gives us strength for the journey, knowing that someday, he, the Lord will come to be by our side.

Let us ask the Lord for this lively hope of waiting for him; never giving  up, never growing weary of waiting and hoping in him because we know that one day, the he shall come.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I get caught up in the concerns of my daily life. At times these concerns become really burdensome. When this happens, what fills my mind all day long are my troubles and problems. But today, you ask me to look up to the heavens from where you will someday appear in glory. Teach me to keep on looking up to the skies waiting for you, so that I may not tire and grow weary and may be filled with hope as I await your coming in glory. Amen.

“ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. “ – Psalm 130: 5 -6

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