Commentary
Sunday, 12/2/2018, First Sunday of Advent
He Will Bring the New Jerusalem
First Reading Commentary for Jeremiah 33:14-16
Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. We hear the prophecy from Jeremiah which is a promise from God to fulfill the promise which He made to David in a dream through Nathan. 2 Samuel 7:11-12
God’s promise was to: raise up a descendant from David who would do right and be just in the land. God also promised that Judah would be safe and that Jerusalem would dwell secure and that she would be called: “The LORD our justice.”
This Scripture can be confusing because we know that it is a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. And yet, it says that Jerusalem would be called: “The LORD our justice.” Why?
The land is not our LORD and the land does not bring justice. It is Jesus Christ who is LORD and it is He who brings justice. Once again, we have to think outside of the box and remember that this prophecy is the LORD speaking through the voice of Jeremiah. We cannot limit God’s words to worldly thinking and therefore we cannot think of Jerusalem in this prophecy in a physical or worldly way.
This prophecy is not only about the coming of the Messiah—it is also a prophecy of what the Messiah will do. That is to make all things new! The Jerusalem that will be Our LORD our justice is the New Jerusalem—the Promised Land of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Heaven is not like any kingdom on earth. It is not like any kingdom that we can even imagine. But we do know these things about heaven: it is; love, joy, peace, happiness, truth, justice and all things good. Heaven is without sickness, pain, suffering or anything that brings us displeasure. Heaven is the ultimate pleasure in all ways and in all things—God’s way! Heaven is all of that.
Jeremiah’s prophecy is telling us that heaven is the LORD because He is not simply the One from whom all good things come—He is all that is good. That means that when we enter heaven, we will be within the LORD.
This might sound far-fetched but it makes perfect since when we consider the fact that each of us is a part of the Mystical Body of Christ. Our entry into the New Jerusalem of heaven will be the fulfillment of eternal life within the Mystical Body. In that place, we will not only be with Our LORD—He will make each of us an eternal living part of Himself.
Chaos or Paradise
Gospel Commentary for Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Today’s gospel could easily be matched with last week’s first reading, Daniel 7:13-14 and last week’s second reading, Revelation 1:5-8 as Jesus told His disciples about the coming of the Son of Man in a cloud with power and great glory. In this gospel, Jesus tells us what to watch out for and how to be ready.
There have been many predictions about the end of the world and all of them have proven themselves to be false for the simple fact that Jesus gave us the only prediction we will ever have. He made it very clear more than once that we do not know the hour or the day. But this gospel gives us some very specific and tangible things to watch out for and we would be wise to take note because as we consider the events of the world today; there is no doubt that the signs are beginning to show themselves.
Now don’t take what I just said as a negative prediction because the last day may be millions and millions of years away. But what I am saying is that we should take this gospel to heart as we should take all of the gospels to heart. And, we cannot take this gospel to heart and ignore what is going on around us in the world today.
No matter what one’s opinion may be about global warming and no matter how science explains global weather in recent years; the signs from Jesus in relation to nature in today’s gospel are evident.
One may argue, with great validity, that there have been conflicts between nations as far back as we can trace man’s existence. But Jesus said, “…and on earth nations will be in dismay…”
We live in a time when powers are bringing terror on the world and there is no one nation that any of these powers come from. Their people are scattered across territorial boundaries and they do not promote their cause under any one flag. Therefore, there is no one nation from which the other nations of the world can defend themselves. And yet, nations are forced to carry out military actions against the nations in which these terrorists live. Worse yet, they claim to act in the name of God which as Pope Francis said, “Is blasphemy.”
The result is dismay within the nations where the terrorist live. In fact, it is dismay within these nations which has made it easy for these terrorists to rise up. The nations which are victimized by terrorist are in dismay because no one can agree on how to fight back.
Then there is the crisis of those who suffer at the hands of their own governments. Some are able to escape and become migrants and refugees but all to often, they are unwelcomed where ever they go. Some are unable to leave where they are or do not want to leave their homes. For them, it is a living hell.
To my knowledge, there has never been a time in history where such conditions have existed to such a level as to literally have the whole world on edge. But we live in that time today.
So, what do we do about it? Jesus did not give us a political or diplomatic solution. I could say a lot about that but I will save that for another commentary. Jesus did tell us what to do as individuals.
Jesus said, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.” Jesus is telling us not to allow the physical pleasures of the world to control our lives and our destinies. Jesus is telling us not to consume ourselves in the troubles of the world or the troubles of our daily lives because none of them will continue to exist beyond the last day. Our concern is to be ready to receive Him.
Jesus is telling us to not be blind to or ignore the fact that He is coming again. If we do, we will be caught by surprise because no one will escape the assault of the last day. That does not mean that the last day will be a bad day. It does mean that no one will escape judgement from Jesus.
If we are ready to be judged, we have no reason to be afraid of the last day. In fact, we have every reason to look forward to it for on that day, all who are ready will enter the Kingdom. So, Jesus said, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations…and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Let’s look at two words in what Jesus said. They are: pray and strength. Jesus is telling us to pray which means that He wants us to talk to Him. The more we talk to Him, the closer we remain to Him and the closer we remain to Him, the more we will be ready when He comes again.
Strength is one of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus is telling us to ask His Spirit for the strength that we need to be ready. With that strength, we will escape the tribulations. When the Son of Man comes, what will be chaos (tribulations) for the wicked will be paradise for those who are, ready.
