Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR C SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT -7.12.03 Bar 5,1-9; Phil 1,3-6.8-11; Lk 3,1-6 Dynamics of Ad-vent Advent
is time to get a move on.
It’s not a ‘static’ concept whereby we patiently wait until someone comes
to shake & wake us up. On the contrary it operates under two lines: one in
which we ad-vance forward; and the other where Someone Special is moving towards
us, until both sides arrive at a precise spot where the En-counter takes place
and then -as the very word ‘en-counter’ implies- the two sides literally
bump-in and fuse into one another’s embrace. The process of Encounter of two
sides who go and come towards each other is essential to Advent: it is packed
with expectations -joyful and fearful ones!- lest something goes dreadfully
wrong. We know that passions, lure of riches, illusions and the cares of life
can stifle our ‘ad-vance-ment’. This dynamic gives the time of Ad-vent its
energy, making it a 4-week period of: preparation - repentance - conversion -
(‘convers-ation’) & inner-transformation: all concepts requiring us to
get a move on. Our prayer during Advent should express
longing-&-disappointment at the awareness that we are far from our God: For
Christmas Lord, may we seek & find you; may we find you & be lost in
your embrace; may enjoy the warmth of your loving care & grow in love..
Ancient writers have spelled out the dynamics of Advent with great urgency. St.
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) preached about celebrating Ad-vent as a time to
“restore the silver-shine on our feathers (‘deargentare’)”, as we
live-out our conversation with Christ. Our Lord -He said- did not simply come to
us but he came in mercy for our sake. And we know how poor & sinful is our
life and how much we need peace & happiness Advent
is going & coming. Over the years we have translated ‘Advent’ as ‘coming’; but this
does not cover the full meaning of Advent, which implies: going & coming,
meeting, en-countering & dealing with’. We should celebrate Advent in all
its richness. See how St. Bernard
spoke about the three Advents of Jesus: in a famous passage, he wrote: “Some people speak of two ‘Advents’ (not ‘two comings’), &
fail to acknowledge the one in between them. Whereas the former two are visible,
the in-between one is invisible. In the first, the Lord was seen on earth, dwelt
among us and sadly, he experienced how people
treated and hated him. In the final Advent, all human beings will see our
Saviour face to face, and then they will stare on him whom they pierced. The
in-between Advent is invisible, & only the chosen see him within themselves
and their souls are saved. Therefore in his first Advent, our Lord came
(venit) in our flesh & our weakness; in this middle Advent he comes
in spirit & power (virtus); in the final Advent: he will come in
glory & majesty. Because this middle Advent is situated between the other
two, it is like a road on which one travels from the first to the last. In the
1st, Jesus was our redemption in the last he will appear as our life; in this
middle one, he is our rest and consolation. In case someone should think that this middle Advent is sheer invention,
listen to what our Lord himself says: Those who love me will keep my word and my
Father will love them and we will come to them... Where is God’s word kept?
obviously in the heart... Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your
very being; let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life.
Feed on its goodness and your soul will delight in its richness; keep eating it
as your bread, or your heart will whither away. Fill your soul with its richness
and strength. If you keep the word of God in this way, it will keep you. Then,
the Son will come to you with the Father”... Live your Advent like this!. ______________________________________ |
