Daily Meditation & Gospel Discussion - Sunday 30November 2008 FIRST SUN. ADVENT - WE ARE LIVING NOW IN THE END TIMES & HOW WE KNOW

[BarbaraTherese]

Church Prayers and Liturgy for Today
Two Posts Daily
First Post
Second Post

**Note that the next Post **
concludes with a series of questions
** for anyone who is interested in **
a Gospel Discussion.

Readings and Meditation
Readings

The end times begins with the first coming of Christ
(his Incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas)
and culminates in his final return on the Day of Judgment.
Jesus spoke of his return in glory
at the end of time as a for
certain fact.

What do you do when someone you love very dearly and miss very much has been gone a very long time but promises to return soon?
Do you ignore their absence, or do you anticipate their return and send them messages to let them know how much you long to be with them again?
Jesus’ parable about the long-expected return of the Master to his household brings …HERE

 

[BarbaraTherese]

For a background and deeper understanding of the reading:

s2ew.ocarm.org/pls/ocarm/consultazione.mostra_pagina?id_pagina=546

“Watch!” This is the key word in the short passage that the Church presents for the liturgy of the first Sunday of Advent. To watch, to stay awake, to wait for the return of the master of the house, not to sleep, this is what Jesus asks of a Christian.

These four verses of the Gospel of Saint Mark are part of the eschatological discourse in chapter thirteen.

This chapter speaks of the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus takes up a point from the observation made by a disciple: “Master, look at the size of those stones!” (Mk 13: 1). Jesus, then, clarifies the idea: “You see these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be pulled down” (Mk 13: 2). The Temple, the tangible sign of the presence of God in the midst of his chosen people, Jerusalem “built as a city, in one united whole” where “the tribes go up, the tribes of Yahweh, a sign for Israel to give thanks to the name of Yahweh” (Ps 122: 4), all this, the sure sign of the promise made to David, sign of the covenant, all this will be destroyed…

it is only a sign of something else to come.

The disciples, rendered curious, ask the Lord who is sitting on the mount of Olives in front of the Temple: “Tell us, when is this going to happen, and what sign will there be that it is all about to take place?” (Mk 13: 4). After the Jewish apocalyptic style inspired by Daniel, Jesus limits his reply to proclaiming the warning signs (false christs and prophets who will deceive by proclaiming the coming of the imminent times, persecutions, signs in the powers of heaven. cf.: Mk 13: 5-32), “But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father” (Mk 13: 32).

This leads us to understand the importance of a watchful and attentive waiting for the signs of the times that help us to welcome the “master of the house” (Mk 13: 35). When he comes, all things will disappear, “the power of the servants” (Mk 13: 34) also the signs that help us remember his benevolence (temple, Jerusalem, house). When the master comes, the “servants” and “the doorkeeper” (Mk 13: 34) no longer care about the signs but take pleasure in the master himself: “Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him” (Mt 25: 6 + Mk 2: 19-20).

Jesus often asked his disciples to watch. In the garden of Olives, on the Thursday night just before the passion, the Lord says to Peter, James and John: “Wait here, and stay awake” (Mk 14: 34; Mt 26: 38). Watching helps us not to fall into temptation (Mt 26: 41) but to stay awake. In the garden of Olives, the disciples fall asleep because the flesh is weak even though the spirit is willing (Mk 14: 38).

Anyone who sleeps goes to ruin, like Samson who allowed himself to be put to sleep, thus losing his strength, the gift of God (Jud 16: 19). We must stay awake always and not fall asleep, and watch and pray that we may not be deceived and thus go to our perdition (Mk 13: 22 + Jn 1: 6). Thus “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5: 14).

Questions to orientate
the meditation and make it relevant

1. 
   *]● What does watching mean to you?
   *]● The Lord foretells the destruction of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem, the pride of the chosen people and symbols of the presence of God. Why does Jesus foretell their destruction?
   *]● The Temple and the holy city were concrete forms of the covenant between God and his people. But these have gone through destruction. What are our concrete forms of the covenant? Do you think they will experience the same fate?
   *]● Jesus calls us to transcend all forms and to attach ourselves to him. What things, forms and signs do you think the Lord is asking you to transcend so as to attach yourself more closely to him?
   *]● Are you asleep? In what sense?
   *]● Do you live always in expectation of the coming of the Lord? Is Advent a time for you to remember the element of waiting in the life of a Christian?
   
   .