Happy New Year! During this Advent season, each Sunday’s readings invite us to prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas. Two prophecies bookend this week’s readings: the first, a prophecy of the Messiah’s initial coming; the second, a prediction of his return at the end of time. While the prophecy from the book of Jeremiah was fulfilled by Christ’s nativity, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus himself looks forward to a second coming yet to occur. Rather than a peaceful manger scene, this second coming of the Son of Man will be heralded by war and chaos, natural turmoil and disasters. In this moment, there will be two types of people: those who are frightened and “perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves,” and those who “stand erect and raise [their] heads because [their] redemption is at hand.” These faithful followers of Jesus have remained vigilant all of their lives, not allowing their spiritual senses to be dulled by anxieties or the pursuit of pleasures. Like the Ten Wise Virgins, these disciples have been joyfully anticipating the return of their lord and master and stand ready to welcome him.
How can we ensure that we are among these disciples? So asked the Thessalonian Christians in our second reading. The answer they receive from St. Paul is full of assurance. The Thessalonians should strive for right conduct—but even more importantly, they need to abound in God’s love. Through love, the Thessalonians will receive the strength to stand “before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.” Thus, it is God himself who prepares us for the coming of his Son, both at Christmas and in the age to come, by growing us in love. “Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice and teaches the humble his way” (Psalm 25). During this Advent season, let us pray for the grace to listen and to trust evermore in God’s love for us.