1st Sunday of AdventYear A - 27/11/2022 - Gospel: Mt 24:33-37
Sure and Unsure
We have all experienced delays when we've pick up a relative or friend at an airport. We confirm the flight number and its arrival time before heading to the airport, but when we get there, there is a delay. The reason for the delay can be varied.
Our spiritual journey has delays too. We are certain that God is always ready. We sometimes are ready, other times not. The delay is a part of human nature. We love to delay things. We know what needs to be done and yet if it can wait for tomorrow we would not hesitate to wait for tomorrow. There are things we can delay and there are things we'd better do immediately because the consequences are beyond correction. Spiritual delay is associated with eternal death. We are living in a sure and unsure time. We are sure of many things. Jesus tells us the reckoning day is sure, but the time when it will happen is unsure. It remains to be a mystery. Because we know that the day of the reckoning is sure to come, it is wise to prepare for it, without delay. Jesus tells us to be ready whenever it comes, and that is all we need to do: 'Be ready'. We are sure of this: if we don't follow God's way, we certainly will follow a human's way. The right attitude to follow Jesus is sincerity in thought and action. We all want to know the time of His coming. Jesus tells us, there is no need to know it. Knowing the time of His coming is not our job but His. Even if we do know the time of His coming, we are powerless to change this universal event. It may come as fast as lightning in the sky; if that were the case we have no time to make the change toward God.
We are more concerned with personal, individual daily affairs and trivial things in life. The certainty of death is undeniable and yet many don't take it seriously; others trust in their ability to make the change. This belief is unreal because if we don't have a strong will to make the change now, how can we make the change when our will was weakened by vices and sin? Others again deny eternal life. This pessimistic view aims to enjoy life here now on earth as much as one can before vanishing. This is an unwise and awful gamble in life; because one would exchange finite years on earth for infinite years in God's kingdom. Our mind can be certain about material things but can't be certain about a spiritual thing. When a mind is absolute about a spiritual thing; it means you are deceived by your own knowledge. It deceives you so greatly that it blinds you to the realization that you are being deceived. We all need food and drink, and good times, but they are not the most important things in life. The most important thing in life is staying awake to welcome Jesus whenever He comes. Staying awake in this sense means being aware of our present responsibility towards the Lord and others. Staying awake also means looking forward to the future with hope. The story of Noah reminds us that our actions do have consequences here right now on earth, and then afterwards the deadly consequence at the afterlife. At the time of Noah, he was a minority who followed God's way. He quietly prepared his family and be ready for the flood. The majority were careless about the future. They were caught unprepared. Jesus told his disciples about the future everlasting life, and that strengthens our hope in Him. We live in hope, and are sure that our hope in the Lord is secured; when we follow not humanity's way, but God's way of love and reconciliation and forgiveness.
What it means is 'One is taken away, one left'. Its implication is unclear. People try their best to make sense of it, and they come up with contradicting views. What we do know is that there will be separation. It could mean either an eternal separation or just a temporary one. What is certain is that the fate of the one who is taken away is unknown, but the one left behind will be frightened by the force of the natural world. All we have to do is simply love, trust, and hope in the Lord.
Our spiritual journey has delays too. We are certain that God is always ready. We sometimes are ready, other times not. The delay is a part of human nature. We love to delay things. We know what needs to be done and yet if it can wait for tomorrow we would not hesitate to wait for tomorrow. There are things we can delay and there are things we'd better do immediately because the consequences are beyond correction. Spiritual delay is associated with eternal death. We are living in a sure and unsure time. We are sure of many things. Jesus tells us the reckoning day is sure, but the time when it will happen is unsure. It remains to be a mystery. Because we know that the day of the reckoning is sure to come, it is wise to prepare for it, without delay. Jesus tells us to be ready whenever it comes, and that is all we need to do: 'Be ready'. We are sure of this: if we don't follow God's way, we certainly will follow a human's way. The right attitude to follow Jesus is sincerity in thought and action. We all want to know the time of His coming. Jesus tells us, there is no need to know it. Knowing the time of His coming is not our job but His. Even if we do know the time of His coming, we are powerless to change this universal event. It may come as fast as lightning in the sky; if that were the case we have no time to make the change toward God.
We are more concerned with personal, individual daily affairs and trivial things in life. The certainty of death is undeniable and yet many don't take it seriously; others trust in their ability to make the change. This belief is unreal because if we don't have a strong will to make the change now, how can we make the change when our will was weakened by vices and sin? Others again deny eternal life. This pessimistic view aims to enjoy life here now on earth as much as one can before vanishing. This is an unwise and awful gamble in life; because one would exchange finite years on earth for infinite years in God's kingdom. Our mind can be certain about material things but can't be certain about a spiritual thing. When a mind is absolute about a spiritual thing; it means you are deceived by your own knowledge. It deceives you so greatly that it blinds you to the realization that you are being deceived. We all need food and drink, and good times, but they are not the most important things in life. The most important thing in life is staying awake to welcome Jesus whenever He comes. Staying awake in this sense means being aware of our present responsibility towards the Lord and others. Staying awake also means looking forward to the future with hope. The story of Noah reminds us that our actions do have consequences here right now on earth, and then afterwards the deadly consequence at the afterlife. At the time of Noah, he was a minority who followed God's way. He quietly prepared his family and be ready for the flood. The majority were careless about the future. They were caught unprepared. Jesus told his disciples about the future everlasting life, and that strengthens our hope in Him. We live in hope, and are sure that our hope in the Lord is secured; when we follow not humanity's way, but God's way of love and reconciliation and forgiveness.
What it means is 'One is taken away, one left'. Its implication is unclear. People try their best to make sense of it, and they come up with contradicting views. What we do know is that there will be separation. It could mean either an eternal separation or just a temporary one. What is certain is that the fate of the one who is taken away is unknown, but the one left behind will be frightened by the force of the natural world. All we have to do is simply love, trust, and hope in the Lord.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
