The coming of the Son of Man // Ti Ebanghelio Lucas/Lk 21: 25-28, 34-36

[Nabulod laeng ti ladawan a naaramat]

The coming of the Son of Man

Ti Ebanghelio
Lucas/Lk 21: 25-28, 34-36
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.”

Reflection

IT PAYS TO WAIT
Waiting is an essential part of our lives. Life is not finished in itself; there is always something more to it, something yet to come. Parents wait for their children to grow up, children wait for their time to go to school and get a job, we all wait for the sun to set before we can enjoy the beauty of the moonlight. What would life be if we could no longer wait?

The First Sunday of Advent ushers in a new liturgical year. As in every new beginning, it is a time for looking forward, anticipating, hoping, waiting. Advent precisely means “coming.” It is the season that celebrates the coming of the Lord, not only at Christmas when he will be born for us and share our humanity. For Filipinos, Christmas has been very much in the air even before Advent comes. Our Advent waiting, however, points to still another coming – the final coming of the Lord at the end of time, which is to be prepared by his coming in our daily lives.

More than just a reckoning of time, Advent is here to teach us to wait, with longing and with hope. Life may be difficult and the situation around us may be disheartening, but we can persevere without fear of disappointment. God is worthy of trust and will never fail his promise: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made…” (First Reading).

Our waiting, however, has to be vigilant, disciplined, and generous. It is very easy to be absorbed in our own concerns and forget about life and God’s greater plan, to stay idle and waste time and energy, only to be sorry later. Indeed, it pays to wait. Therefore, we are exhorted by the Lord Jesus to watch and pray (Gospel) and by Paul to grow in holiness (Second Reading).

Our challenge remains. Lest our waiting be meaningless and empty, even self-destructive, let us take time to pray.

Prayer opens our eyes to the presence of God every day, puts all things in the proper perspective, and makes us stand firm even in the midst of trials and sufferings.

May the Lord strengthen us, protect us from all anxiety, and make us holy, as we wait in joyful hope for his coming every day and at the end of time.