The first Sunday arrived and we were all at Mass. The kids and I participated in Children's Liturgy of the Word. Carl enjoyed Fr. Louis's homily. We all sang.
This is the start of Liturgical Cycle C. We will be hearing Gospels from the book of Luke. Today's reading was Chapter 21: 25-28, 34-36. Although the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah told the familiar reassurance that the Lord "will raise up for David a just shoot," the Gospel anticipates the Christ's Second Coming, (not the first coming that Advent heralds.)
To be warned of "signs" and instructed to be "alert" by Jesus is not the happy-feely stuff we want out of our Christmas season, is it? Didn't we just have all those old end-of-times readings with the end of Cycle B?? The readings are chosen, changed as necessary, to instruct. The readings are not selected on a whim, but assembled to create a narrative for our spiritual lives, much like a writer carefully choose words and scenes. Some years, we go straight to the Messianic anticipation, but this year, we are reminded that the birth of the baby is not the end-all-be-all, just like the festivities of Christmas Day are not all there is to celebrating our call to love one another.
The end of our lives? Fleeting, considering the age of all time.
The end of time? Inconceivable.
Helping provided weekend food for kids who rely on subsidized school meal? Everyday. Giving a smile when you have one, or accepting a smile when you don't? Anytime. Really listening to someone? Do-able.
The best way to anticipate is not to fret about what will happen when "someday" gets here, but do all the good we can "today" so we're not caught unawares with all of our "might-have-beens."
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