FIRST READING – Jeremiah 33: 14-16 – “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
SECOND READING – 1 Thessalonians 3: 12-4:2 – May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
GOSPEL – Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36 – Jesus said to his disciples, “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”
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Before the Israelites’ exile to Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah had warned them severely that their hierarchical social structure, blindly copied from godless nations, shall lead them into serious trouble. Nevertheless, when this came about Jeremiah saw it as a blessing in disguise: he foretold that a remnant shall survive the terrible ordeal, and finally organise society in a just and righteous way; a society of equality, freedom and sister/brotherhood. Only such a society will be able to guarantee the people’s possibility to “dwell securely”.
The same hope in despair is expressed by Paul while writing to the Christians of Thessalonica. Though he had preached to them the gospel of righteousness and freedom, the Jewish Christians, obsessed with sectarian and intransigent beliefs, rescinded most of his work there. Nevertheless, a remnant survived which remained faithful to his teachings. This was the community of equality, freedom and sister/brotherhood which Jeremiah envisaged.
Jesus’ language, while recalling that of the prophets, is thoroughly symbolic. Since the gospels were written solely for Christian communities, this passage fully recognises Christians’ discouragement by what they see and hear in the Church and around them, and exhorts them to be steadfast in their faith and not lose heart.
Like some Israelites in Babylon, some Christians in Thessalonica, and some Jews in Jesus’ time, some Christians today may indeed perceive that the community of equality, freedom and sister/brotherhood willed by God for his Church is, indeed, not be a universal reality. Unfortunately, signs of sectarianism and intransigence are everywhere. Nevertheless, there are realistic indications of hope, particularly with Christians (laity, religious, priests, bishops and cardinals) who are tuned to the demands of such a community. This hope is expressed in the ‘impossibility’ of the Christmas event.
Grazzi - Fr. Mark!
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