Advent Sunday 01 12 24
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Jeremiah 33:14-16
NEW TESTAMENT READING: 1 Thessalonians 3.9-end
GOSPEL READING Luke 21:25-36
Today is Advent Sunday, and this marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and we begin a new lectionary through which we will be journeying in faith. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia.
The last book of the Bibe, Revelation ends with a affirmation and a prayer, ‘The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’(Revln 22.20). This last prayer of the Bible became the first prayer of the church. Advent is a time when we re affirm that we are a people living in anticipation o the second coming of Jesus.
Why are we anticipating the second coming of Jesus Christ?
On the Ascension Day, as Jesus was taken up into the heavens, the angels appeared and they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’(Acts 1.11). This message gave the church the anticipation that Jesus will come again.
How will it be on that day?
Jesus during his ministry kept assuring people about the end times and his return. He said ‘and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory’ (Mark 13.25,26). Jesus mentioned great destruction and distress however those moments of disaster will end as he comes in Glory.
St. Paul envisions this glorious moment as he writes, ‘For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever’ (1 Thessalonians 4.16,17).
When is this going to happen?
The Second coming of our Lord Jesus has been the hope and expectation of the church and it has been a long wait now. Jesus told his disciples, ‘but about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father’ (Mark 13.32).
Why has this not happened yet?
St. Peter in his epistles tells us that, ‘The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance’ (2 Peter 3.9). He tells us that God is not interested in punishing people but is waiting for people to repent and turn to God.
What will happen to those who are redeemed by Jesus Christ?
Jesus assured his disciples when he appears in glory, ‘Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven’ (Mark 13.26,27).
John in his epistles writes that our nature will be changed on that day, ‘Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is’ (1 John 3.2).
So what should we do?
The second coming of Jesus is immanent therefore our Lord Jesus tells us, ‘Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come’ (Mark 13.33). He also said, ‘You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour’ (Luke 12.40).
Let us then be reminded of this great anticipation and pray each day, Come Lord Jesus, Come soon.