Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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The word “advent” by definition means arrival or appearance. Of course, in the next four weeks, we will be preparing to remember the first arrival of Jesus. That first advent of Jesus took place when he was born as an infant in Bethlehem.
But Jesus promised another appearance. He would come again in glory. This is his reappearance to us. It is the future advent of his second coming.
Today, Jesus in our Gospel reading talks about his reappearance at the end of time. There will be dismay, people will be perplexed, and the heavens will be shaken. “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
But there is also an in-between reappearance of Jesus. In fact, there are several. Jesus reappears when we see him with eyes of faith in the Eucharist, in the poor, in one another. And he will reappear when our lives end with our bodily death.
We must always be prepared for his reappearance, either for times when he appears now, such as at the Mass or when we take care of the poor, and also when he will come for us at the end of our lives on earth. We must even be excited as we wait for him. We must be like little children waiting for Christmas morning.
And, if we are watching for him, we will not be caught off guard. Jesus says, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.”
He says, “Be vigilant at all times” so that we might have the ability “to stand before the Son of Man.”
In short, we all know that Jesus will reappear, that his “advent” is always imminent. That is why we watch, and we wait, and we live our lives as though he was here already. Because he is. And he is yet to come.
May your Advent be filled hope in the promise of our Lord — and your lives be strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit — and your joy when Jesus reappears be like that of children on Christmas morning.
Have a great week everyone.