I Sunday of Advent

WAIT... WITH REALISTIC HOPE

Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Readings for the I Sunday of Advent

In his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”, Viktor Frankl narrates how he survived Auschwitz. He writes that one of the worst sufferings at Auschwitz was waiting: waiting for an uncertain release or for the war to end or for death. This waiting caused some prisoners to give up; the same waiting did not cause others like Frankl to succumb. They had a realistic goal; they had a “why”. They looked at the present realistically and to the future with hope.

 

Look at the present realistically and to the future with hope! This is the message of the readings today.

- Jeremiah is preaching at a time of national and personal distress: Jerusalem is under siege, and he is in prison. He recognizes that the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile are imminent. But Jeremiah foresees that a shoot will bud from the old stalk of David; this shoot will bring about peace with justice and there will be a total recovery of national and religious stability. The present is bleak; Jeremiah looks at it squarely and looks to the future with hope.

- Jesus predicts the total collapse of Jerusalem, which has been the symbol of God’s eternal fidelity. But he encourages his disciples to stand firm, because he is the shoot of David who will re-establish order and recovery of identity. Jesus paints a grim view of the future not to paralyse his listeners with fear but to call them to faith, prayer, and hopeful waiting; he invites them to be attentive to their disorders.

- St Paul urges the Thessalonians to grow in love for another and to grow in holiness during this period of waiting.

 

How will I spend this season of Advent: Will I lament the present or will I look at it realistically and to the future with hope? What are the disorders I need to remove from my life? How will I grow in love and holiness?

May this Advent be a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, a time of hope-filled and realistic waiting-action.

Jesus Christ the Universal King

AN “ORDINARY” KING

Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37

Readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King

Arthur was the first-born son of King Pendragon of England. Since they lived in troubled times, Merlin, the wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place without anyone knowing his identity. Merlin sent Arthur to be raised in the countryside. Arthur grew up as an “ordinary” lad; he lived among his people unspoiled and unsullied by the grandeur of royalty. That experience stood him in good stead—when he became king, he was kind and loving; he embodied loyalty, strength, boldness, and faithfulness.

Arthur is, perhaps, a legendary figure! But his story is like the story of our Universal King: Jesus. 

Jesus was born to a humble carpenter and a lowly maiden in obscure Nazareth; he grew up as an ordinary lad and did ordinary things. For much of his life, few knew his true identity.

Jesus grew up to be king unlike any other. In his conversation with Pilate, he states: “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” His kingdom is unlike the kingdoms of this world. 

- His kingdom was not for the nobility; it was for all people, especially the poor, the lost, the marginalized. His kingdom has no boundaries and goes beyond nationality; it is an everlasting kingdom (see the first reading from Daniel);

- His kingship was not of power and domination; it was the way of powerless and freedom.

- He had no palace; he was born in a manger, had no place to lay his head during his public ministry, and he was buried in a borrowed tomb. 

- His crown was made of thorns; his throne was the cross.

- His authority is that of humble and loving service. He did not have servants waiting on him; he put on a towel and became a slave to his apostles. 

- It is a kingship in which the king does not expect people to die for him; rather he goes to his death for them (see the second reading from the Book of Revelation).

We are subjects of this “ordinary” king who is extraordinary. To be subject to him is to experience love and acceptance, liberation and peace. Will I be his true subject? If so, how will I imitate this ordinary and servant king?

 

XXXIII Sunday of the Year

STAY IN THE RACE

Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

Readings for the XXXIII Sunday of the Year

For the movie Ben Hur, director William Wyler decided that, for the race at the end, Charlton Heston should drive the chariot himself rather than use a stunt double. Heston agreed and started chariot-driving lessons. After days of practice, Heston told Wyler: “I think I can drive the chariot all right. But I’m not sure I can win the race.” Wyler said: “Charlton, you just stay in the race, and I’ll make sure you win.” 

 

We can feel with Heston; given the situation of our lives and world, even staying in the race is tough! To us, God says: “You just stay in the race, and I’ll make sure you win.” This is the message of hope and consolation in the Sunday readings. 

But where is the message of hope? The first reading from the Book of Daniel and the Gospel from Mark predict disaster! The first reading talks of “a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time.” The Gospel text is often interpreted as announcing the end of the world. 

 

These are “apocalyptic” writings: symbolic/ graphic descriptions that must not be understood literally. 

Further, after the catalogue of disaster comes the good news of hope: the Book of Daniel talks about a chosen group which will overcome the disaster and lead many to justice; in the gospel, Jesus speaks about his coming in glory when he will “gather his elect” from all over. Both readings see beyond suffering-persecution-distress to a future of peace. Jesus’ disciples are to respond with faith and hope. God has not lost control of history but will bring things to a triumphant end. 

What is the basis for our hope? The Letter to the Hebrews tell us the basis for our hope is the one sacrifice that Christ offered for the forgiveness of sins. This is what we celebrate at every Eucharist. 

The Lord invites you and me to remain steadfast through the turmoil in our lives. We ask ourselves: 

Will I stay in the race trusting that the Lord will stay with me and see me through? Will I look beyond the tribulation and respond with faith and hope?

XXXII Sunday of the Year

SHE GAVE ALL SHE HAD

1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

Readings for the XXXII Sunday of the Year

In the late 70s, a young man walked into church one evening with his first salary: a thousand rupees. After communion, the celebrant announced a collection for the new parish school. When the ushers reached the man, he put his salary envelope into the collection!

Sharing about the incident, he said: “I didn’t know from where my next meal would come but I put my entire salary into the collection. I was reckless! Today I make several times that amount. But I’m sure I won’t repeat that action.” He added: “When we possess much, we find it difficult to give it all.”

The reverse is certainly true in today’s readings!

The widow of Zarephath gave everything she had, her son’s and her own last meal, to a foreigner whose God she did not even worship. And this God provided for her!

The widow in the temple offered two of the smallest coins in circulation. In the arithmetic of the kingdom, the widow’s mite is worth more than all the other contributions. While the others gave from their surplus, she gave all that she had. God must have provided for her.

Last Sunday we concentrated on the “Great Commandment”. The ultimate love towards God is found in these two widows. Right through this section in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has shown the emptiness of the Pharisees’ religion; he now presents this widow as an example of someone who gives all she has to God. Further, the poor widow typifies what Jesus has done and will do – give everything, give himself as an offering to God. Jesus hopes that his disciples will take their cue not from the scribes’ ostentation but from the widow’s piety and generosity. 

If these poor widows could give everything to God, if a young man could give his whole salary for God’s work, what about me: What am I going to put into the “temple treasury” this week? Will I be recklessly generous and trust in divine providence?

True generosity is measured not by what I give, but by what I have left over after I give!

XXXI Sunday of the Year

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34

Readings for the XXXI Sunday of the Year

In a cartoon strip, Frank and Ernest are standing in front of rows of shelves of books. The sign on top of one of the shelves reads: “Law Library.” Franks tells Ernest: “It’s frightening when you think that we started out with just Ten Commandments.” 

It is frightening! The Jews started out with Ten Commandments and ended up with 613; there are 1752 canons in our Canon Law! 

There were two tendencies in Judaism: one expanded the law into many regulations; the other gathered the law into one summary sentence. Further, there were two schools of thought: one believed there were lighter and weightier matters of the law, and one could prioritize; the other held that all principles – even the smallest – were equally important and binding. Hence, the question the scribe asked in the gospel passage was a living issue in Jewish circles. 

Jesus’ response gathers up the scripture of Israel in one statement. He quotes the creed of Judaism, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:2-6, first reading): “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Alongside this creed, Jesus places another passage (Leviticus 19:18): “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” For Jesus, it is a combination of these texts that makes the summary and the essence of the law; religion is loving God and loving people. 

The scribe, pleased with Jesus’ reply, makes a pertinent point: such love is better than all ritual sacrifices. But it is always easier to let ritual take the place of love; it is easier to let worship become a matter of the church building instead of a matter of one’s whole life.

 

Jesus loved God and people totally. 

How am I going to imitate Jesus in the week ahead? How shall I love my God with my whole being? How shall I love my neighbour as myself?

PS: G.K. Chesterton said that the great lesson of Beauty and the Beast is that a person must be loved before he/she is loveable. Unless we feel loved, we cannot love. Just as abused children grow up to become abusers, loved children grow up to become loving adults. God loves and accepts us “just as we are”. Therefore, we can love and accept ourselves and in so doing, love and accept others.