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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, Dec. 2, 2012
By Sharon K. Perkins
Catholic News Service
December 2, First Sunday of Advent
Cycle C. Readings:
1) Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
2) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
It's not often that I get a clear view of the night sky, but on a recent evening I was out in the Texas Hill Country under a full moon that was so low I felt I could almost touch it. The moon's beauty was made even more spectacular by an occasional bank of clouds, outlined in silver, veiling and then unveiling its luminous face. As I watched them pass, I didn't feel the rocky ground beneath me; time seemed to stop as I sensed God's presence and was moved to praise him for such a delightful gift.
The moon and stars in today's Gospel have quite the opposite effect. In fact, the heavens that Jesus describes are in such disarray that "people will die of fright" in anticipation of the tribulation to come.
For centuries, Christians have interpreted the divine revelation of such apocalyptic writings in a variety of ways -- often as terrifying omens foretelling the end of the world.
Advent is the season in which we as the church reflect on Christ's coming to us in human history, but we don't simply consider the past event of his birth, nor do we focus solely on his victorious appearance at the end of time.
We are also advised to be aware of his presence in the present, to be "vigilant at all times," not simply because the world as we know it is passing away, but because it is our human folly to imagine time as a commodity to be consumed, controlled, hoarded or squandered at our inclination.
For our ancestors -- who measured time by the movements of the sun, moon and stars -- the shaking of the heavens would be akin to all our clocks stopping at once. The idea that the God of eternity will forever wait patiently while we continue to indulge ourselves in "carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life" is simply unbiblical and foolish. Time isn't "mine" to own; the world of my existence will come to an unexpected end that I do not choose.
The clouds that I watched that autumn evening will one day, according to the Scriptures, bear the Son of Man as he returns in "power and great glory." In the meantime, let us be mindful, as St. Paul says, of God's present gift of time -- an opportunity to "increase and abound in love for one another and for all."
QUESTIONS:
Have you ever experienced a moment of wonder or worship when time seemed to stand still? In what way(s) do you fool yourself into thinking that your time belongs only to you?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars." -- Luke 21:25
END
Copyright © 2012 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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