advent reflection for dec 8

the second sunday of advent

In the last week, we’ve focused our reflections on the Old Testament and what the ancient Jews were expecting from the messiah to come. This week, we consider another sort of “coming” of Christ.

In today’s first reading, we hear about an idyllic paradise, where the children can play with cobras and lions, where carnivores become vegetarians, and where the wicked get their just reward. The Responsorial Psalm says that “justice with flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” We live in a world where this sort of paradise hasn’t been accomplished. Did Jesus fail to bring it about?

St. Paul says that what was written in the Old Testament was written that we might have hope. Prophecies like today’s first reading are meant to inspire hope in us, because Jesus’ work is not yet over. He still works in us, and he will still come again to usher in the end of the world.

For Catholics in the state of grace, we can look with hope toward the second coming of Christ; but we can never become complacent. We must always stay vigilant. God tells us in Proverbs 8 that we should always grow in our understanding of his teachings. He says, “Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” By staying vigilant, and growing in our faith, we can maintain our hope in the promises of Christ concerning his second coming. In our reflections this week, we’ll take a special look at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.