Throughout history people have tried to turn these ‘signs’ into a kind of ‘code’ that can be deciphered and that will predict when Jesus will return. Predicting the end has been particularly popular in some Protestant circles such as Hal Lindsey's book The Late Great Planet Earth, and Tim LaHaye’s, Left Behind series which was made into a movie in 2014.
Catholics have not been immune to this activity, either under the spell of such authors, or through alleged Catholic apparitions and mystics.
One author has humorously characterized two kinds of people. There are roosters who crow about the imminent end of the world as they calculate the signs, in order to wake up the sleeping community, and the owls who “dislike both noise and light; they want to hush the roosters, insisting that it is still night, that the dawn is far away.” So far, the owls have a much higher score in this competition.
Yet, Jesus words do point to a final time of judgment that will take place, at the end of time. We are told, however, that that we will not know the hour, and that it will take us by surprise.
There have been a succession of failed rosters throughout history. These roosters were sure that the end was upon us, only to see the calendar roll on. Some of these have been recent such as Nostradamus’ prophecies and the Year 2000, or the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012.
So what do we believe?
We believe that Jesus has ascended into heaven and that his kingdom reigns on earth now, in mystery, through the Spirit. The kingdom of God is already present as a mystery, but it will be fully revealed in the future. As Jesus tells us, we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
Jesus taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The present time is one of Spirit and witness (CCC 672) but it is also a time of trial, waiting and watching.
We are actually in a type of spiritual battle. The kingdom of God needs our cooperation. It is only through our prayer, witness, and cooperation with the Spirit that it will go forth. This involves a struggle against our own hearts, and against the shiny things in this world, and ultimately against the work of the evil one. Jesus warns us about this struggle here, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catches you by surprise.”
Each one of us needs to ask ourselves the honest question, “Am I ready to meet the Lord?” Jesus warns, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” So we might ask ourselves, is my heart in the right place with God?
Not many of us, I would suppose, believe that the world is going to end tonight, but do we know the number of our days? Standing before the King is imminent for each of us, even before his return. We will all reach the end of our days, and it may be much sooner than we think.
Jesus calls us to “be vigilant at all times and pray” that we have the strength to endure our trial. What would we think of a soldier on guard duty, who fell asleep or who got drunk and ignored his responsibilities to watch and beware of the enemy.
Yet Jesus does not want us to live in fear. He invites us to understand that our Heavenly Father is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. We are invited into his arms of mercy. Like the prodigal son, our father is waiting for us to return to him. He will run to us and receive us with great joy. Yet, we need to turn and receive his loving embrace.
One of the earliest recorded prayers of the early Christians was the Aramaic expression Marana tha (“Come, Lord!”)—“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” By this prayer we acknowledge that although already present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled “with power and great glory” by the king’s return to earth”
As the catechism reminds us this petition; “Marana tha,” is the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: “Come, Lord Jesus.” It is a longing in the heart, a desire to meet the beloved.
Those whose hearts are prepared to be with the Lord, long to be with him. Come Lord Jesus, fill my heart with your love. Take away my fear. Let me renew my commitment today to follow you with my whole heart, mind and soul. Jesus I trust in you!
First Sunday of Advent, Year C
No comments:
Post a Comment