Sunday Scripture Readings

Submitted on May 24, 2007

Fr. Francis X. Cleary, SJ

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, DECEMBER 7 Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 OUR GOOD NEWS: "He Who Comes" is eagerly awaited by us, a needy but hope-filled world. In our first reading, "Jerusalem" is personified as a grand lady, dressed in mourning. She had been despoiled by conquering invaders, a mother bereft of her "children" — Jews driven into Babylonian exile. But now the prophet (about whom nothing is known) is empowered to announce joyful news. Lady Jerusalem is to "take off" her sackcloth worn in mourning and "put on" her finest festal garments. The restoration of the nation and return of her citizens are imminent! This miracle will be no human achievement through war or diplomacy. It will be God’s own doing, a marvel that "displays (His) glory" — his unlimited power and thoughtful concern. Israel was thus to be reconstituted as a worshiping community. Hers is the privilege of "bearing (God’s) name," which marked her as His personal possession. Hers, too, will be a share in the divine "splendor," not as a reward but that it be made visible to "all the earth." The Chosen People would thus become ("be named") mediator of divine "peace" that creates true "justice." Israel also is called to serve as a center of and example for genuine "godliness." This promise of divine salvation approaches fulfillment in the second unit. Jerusalem is summoned to witness from the hilltops a new and glorious advent-arrival: God’s people returning in triumph! The contrast could not be more striking. With caring hand, the Lord would level the roadway and shade it with "every fragrant kind of tree." This Advent reading summons us to joyful expectation. God comes to deliver us from the slavery and exile of hopeless existence! We ready ourselves to experience this coming anew when we commemorate His Son’s birth, the better to await His final and definitive coming. Meantime, the Church has been constituted and commissioned to reveal the divine power, glory and mercy through evangelization and personal witness. The Advent spirit of expectant joy is not to be faked, but based on our present situation of both blessings and needs. The Church, community of hope in a hopeless world, shows through attitude and act that end-time blessings of forgiveness and reconciliation are already available. Baruch looked forward to Israel’s return from exile; today’s psalmist celebrated restoration as a past event, but incomplete. This "pilgrim song" exactly corresponds to the Church’s present situation. With the coming of Christ, salvation has already taken place. "The Lord has done great things for us." But our "laughter and rejoicing" are muted by "tears and weeping," for full deliverance remains future hope. Like farmers laboring in fields at planting season, we look forward to the unlimited joy of end-time harvest blessings. In sum, the present age of the Church combines the already and the not yet, with future hope grounded upon limited but real experience of blessing.