FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
November 29, 2009 First Sunday of Advent
Two weeks ago, on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, the readings from Mark spoke of the end times. The words painted an image of celestial cataclysm that ends with the coming of Jesus in the clouds of glory. Today’s Gospel reading is the parallel version described in the Gospel of Luke. In both readings the message leaves us hope that Jesus will come and save us from the midst of this chaos. Our personal “end time” will come when death claims our mortal bodies. The visions of these two Gospels could easily describe our death. The sun and stars will be darkened away, the chaos and despair of losing life may roar in our ears as Luke described, and we may faint from fear. But then Jesus will come to us as Luke wrote: “Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory.” And in our new life we will do as the Gospel says: “Stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near.”