Mark 13:33-37
Friends,
today’s Gospel urges us to stay alert as we await the coming of the
Lord. Advent is the season of waiting. We place ourselves in the
position of those who, over the centuries, waited for the coming of the
Messiah. With them, we cry out, "How long, O Lord?"
Though
Jesus fulfilled the expectations of his people, nevertheless we still
wait. The liturgy states it very clearly: "as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." In one of the Eucharistic
prayers, we find, "as we await his coming in glory…" The Creed says, "He
will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." And the
very last words of the New Testament are "Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus."
What
do we make of all of this? Do we really think that he is going to come
again and walk on the earth? We stay awake in our waiting if we pray on a
regular basis; if we educate ourselves in the faith; if we participate
in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist; if we perform the corporal
and spiritual works of mercy; if we become people of love.
Bishop Robert Barron
No comments:
Post a Comment