• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, November 29, 2009

Scripture:

Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Reflection:

Happy New Year! Or perhaps you think I am a bit confused with this greeting…but in reality, the First Sunday of Advent marks the first day of the Church’s new liturgical year. These next four weeks are meant to be weeks of intense prayer and longing for the joyful return of our Savior Jesus Christ. So why do the Church’s readings this first day of Advent focus on the end of the world? Why is the Church being, to use the vernacular, "such a party pooper"???

Most people, even some Christians, think of the days leading up to Christmas as simply a time which reaches its climax on December 25th, the day Christians celebrate the historic birth of Jesus, God in the Flesh. The time is often marked by a succession of parties and gift-giving which truly lighten both mind and spirit – a time of joyful celebration! And while there is nothing wrong with parties or gift-giving, Catholics know that there is much more to Advent then just the celebration of a historic person’s birthday, even if that person was God. The other element that is often missing in secular society is the element of intense longing – longing for the coming again of our Savior Jesus the Christ. And yes, this second coming is meant to be joyful!

For the faithful, Advent is not just a time to remember the wonderful event of God’s Son coming among us as a poor babe in Bethlehem. It is also a time to wait in anticipation for the Son’s second coming, not as a babe but as a ruler. This Jesus, this Christ, will make all things new and establish a Kingdom of Righteousness for all of the faithful. Therefore those of us who will be privileged to experience this coming again of our Lord have no need to fear, no need to run and hide, no need to stock up on supplies, but rather to welcome this Christ with joy and love in our hearts. My friends, this will truly be the apex of our existence, both as individuals as well as a species. That is why the Church’s focus today is on the end of time – not as a time of catastrophe, but rather as a time of our personal redemption as well as world transformation.

So Jesus tells us today, this first Sunday of Advent, not to go out and start digging a bomb shelter in our backyard or hoard a year’s worth of can goods or quit our jobs and sail around the world…no. Jesus tells us simply to be "vigilant," to "pray" and to "stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

Now that’s a reason to party! 

 

Patrick Quinn ([email protected]) is the director of Planned Giving at the Passionist Development Office in Chicago.

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in