Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thess
3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
History of salvation has
been very dynamic. It has moved forward with a promise and the consequent hope,
and the fulfillment of the promise.
Today we begin the season
of advent. The reminder of the greatest promise in the history of salvation -
The promise of a Saviour.
A glance through the
history Salvation takes us back to the Paradise. Out of the infinite plan of God
was born the mysterious world and its master, the man. God’s promises begin
from there. The first man was promised a partner “EVE”. Abraham was given the
promise of uncountable descendants. The Israelites in Egypt were given the
promise of a mediator to lead them out of their misery. The wandering
Israelites were promised a land flowing with milk and honey. When they were
settled down they were promised a King, and a temple to worship God. And the
promises continue and the history of salvation becomes more dynamic and
progressive.
In today’s first reading
Prophet Jeremiah reminds the people about the great promise of God, the promise
of a virtuous man from the house of David, who will bring honesty and integrity
to the land and liberation to the house of David. In the second reading St Paul
reminds us to continue the blameless life initiated by Jesus, so that we will
be ready for the second advent , the Glorious coming of Jesus, which is the
theme of Today’s Gospel. The Gospel proclaims the promise of Jesus, the coming
of the Son of Man in all His glory.
The season of Advent helps
us to recall the promise of a righteous man to establish integrity and honesty,
as prophesied by prophet Jeremiah, the fulfillment of this promise in the
person of Jesus, and prepares us for the second coming of Jesus.
The factors that lead our
fore fathers were faith in the promise of God, and hope in its fulfillment.
Israelites’ hope helped them to cross deserts and Traverse Mountains. Abraham’s
hope made him the father of a great race. Joab’s hope strengthened him to
suffer his misfortunes. The hope of early Christians gave them courage to
withstand persecution.
Dear brothers and sisters,
it is hope that lead us also forward. Keats wrote “heard melodies are sweet,
those unheard are sweeter.” Our hope and the pleasant waiting for something
make our lives too sweeter.
When we are beset with the
contemporary problems of injustice, inhuman misery, hunger and poverty it is
our “hope” - hope in the promise of prophets, hope in the promise of Jesus,
hope in the coming of Jesus into our lives that should lead us forward.
O Henry’s story the “Last
Leaf” brings out the significance of hope.
The story begins as Johnsy,
near death from pneumonia, lies in bed waiting for the last leaf of an ivy vine
on the brick wall she spies through her window to fall. She counted the falling
of all leaves. Now only the last one is left. She is sure that that she will
die as the last leaf falls.
The night witnessed
torrential rain and powerful storm. Morning Johnsy looked out of the window
before breathing her last. But to her surprise she saw that the last leaf
survived the rain and wind. It stuck to the vine. She began to show signs of
improvement and recovered in a few days.
An artist who lived below
her apartment understood the thought of Johnsy. That night he went out with his
set of brush and paint. The last leaf was the creation of Behrman. Outside
Johnsy’s window were a ladder, a lantern still lighted "some scattered
brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors mixed on it . . . it was
Behrman’s masterpiece--he painted it [a leaf] there the night that the last
leaf fell."
The sight of the last leaf
rekindled the hope of Johnsy. And she survived.
Dear friends, The wisdom of
our forefathers reminds us that “every cloud has a silver lining”, every night
is followed by a bright day. At the end of every sorrow there some joy awaiting
us. I recall the words of Shelley, “If winter comes can spring be far behind?”
I conclude with the words
of St. Paul " suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.”
Satish