Today’s gospel brings us face to face with challenging Apocalyptic images. Some aspects are quite frightening. Our first impulse might be to look away. But we are called to step into the breach at the point of the intersection of worldly time and sacred time. We are told that we live in an in-between time that harbours the quality of God’s kingdom present now but not yet. This notion sounds contradictory. Can ‘now but not yet’ possibly hold together?
Yes. God’s time is the now/not yet that reshapes the world’s present expectations and our own. Luke’s gospel reveals how we should know when God’s kingdom is near: there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars, and on earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves…the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21: 25, 26b). There will be signs causing people to fear what is coming upon the world (v 26). The powers of the heavens will be shaken and people will see the Son of Humanity coming in a cloud with power and glory (v 27).
So how are we to live in relation to this text that tells of the end time? We are not called to live in the fashion of a Doomsday cult. Our invitation is to embrace mystery and God’s grace. To seek to live in a manner that is Christ-centred and life-giving. We can live actively in the space between earthly time and sacred time. In that opening, music, poetry, art, and prayer (in its multiple forms) can nourish and sustain us. As Christians we are asked to live with a complex mode of consciousness; the now and not yet!
Advent is a time of eager anticipation. We celebrate that God was born in human form at Bethlehem as a vulnerable baby. Through this action God has redeemed our world. The work has already been done. What a cause for joy!
I wish you a blessed and meaningful Advent,
Linda