Pre-Advent Reflection

Scripture: Lectionary 495. II John 4-9. Psalm 119:1.2.10.11.17.18 Luke
17:26-37:

As shadows lengthen and the hours of the day shorten with their sunlight,
our Scriptures seem to match what is going on in nature and remind us of
the ultimate sayings of Jesus about the afterlife, judgment, the Parousia
or second coming. This historically is influenced by the actual time in
which the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in the war of 68-73
A.D. This event is reflected upon especially in Mark, Luke, and Matthew.
This is what is meant by the eschatological (last things) perspective of
the Gospel writers.

Jesus warns us about these things in the chapters about him before the
Passion Narrative begin. Thus we are led by his sayings and by the liturgy
of the Church to get ourselves ready for Advent when a new Church year
begins. This remote preparation is helpful for our prayer life during this
more solemn time of year when the Saints and Souls of the just open the
month of November. In the northern hemisphere this is more apparent with
the different modes of spirituality which lead us to Advent. This time of
autumn nearing winter lends itself to more profound thoughts about God and
ourselves. Eschatological reflections seem to be easier during this
season.

Hope is emphasized despite the thoughts about the endtime. John's second
epistle given to us today as the opening of the liturgical readings
highlights what is important for us in preparing ourselves for Advent. It
is the commandment of Agape Love. Here is what he says, "Love is a
commandment we had from the start; let us love one another. This love
involves our walking according to the commandments and you have heard from
the beginning, the commandment of love is the way in which you should
walk." (II John 5-6).

Psalm 119, an acorstic or alphabetical psalm, gives us the commandments of
the Lord and how we should thank God for them that are manifiested in seven
different dimensions of what it means to do the commandments of the Lord.

Elie Weisel beautifully spells out the meaning of the commandment of love:
"Try to help others. Many others. Obviously it is not the numbers that
matters. But then again how can you help one man and not another? The
silent walk side by side--that's what men must discover. I know: it's
impossible and contradictory. But at least let no man reject the chance. In
rejecting, a man rejects himself; he isolates us all ,and himself
too." ( The Town Beyond the Wall, p 123). Amen.