May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23)
As I looked at the readings for Mass this weekend, I had a little sense of “déjà vu.” They seem to be very similar to the readings from last Sunday. Both Sundays have readings from Isaiah, and both have Gospels about John the Baptist. It shouldn’t really be a “surprise” since this is a season when are remembering the first coming and preparing for the second coming.
The coming of the Messiah was something eagerly anticipated by the Jewish people. His coming was to be a time of great rejoicing (Gaudete!) It represented the intervention of God into the affairs of men. No longer would they be hungry or thirsty or oppressed or crippled. They would be delivered from the difficulties of this life and live in a new reality without fear. God would be with them, according to the promises of His Covenant.
However, the appearance of the Messiah was disputed. Would he be a great king, like David? Would he be a great prophet, like Moses? Would he be a great judge, like Solomon? Understanding the prophecies of Isaiah was difficult. John only knew that the Messiah would be “mightier than I” and that he “was not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandal”
So how does Jesus accomplish his mission as Messiah? First, he unites Himself with man through the Incarnation. Second, He teaches. Third, He suffers, dies, rises from the dead, and ascends to the Father. Fourth, He sends His Holy Spirit so that all might know the meaning of His revelation. And then He gives us (humanity) time to prepare for His coming in glory.
We currently live in a period of time of “expectant longing” for the return of Christ in His glory. And during this time, Jesus gives us all the means to prepare ourselves for that coming: through the Sacramental life of the Church by which we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit; through the intercession of the Saints, most particularly the Holy Mother of God; and through the infallible guidance on faith an morals of the Holy Catholic Church. How blessed are we to recall these things as we celebrate this season of expectant longing that we call Advent. Be strong! Fear not! Our Savior comes! And “may the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Rev. Msgr.) Christopher H. Nalty
msgr.nalty@gmail.com
