Prepare Room | Fr. Chad E. JarnaginMatt. 24:36-44The Day and Hour Unknown36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, [a] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark (judgement); 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.The word 'Advent' is from the Latin 'Adventus,' which means ‘coming / arrival.’ Advent is the beginning of a new Church year. It is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of the Word made flesh... Think of Advent beginning in the dark, sort of a reset of all the seasons... while each week, more light is revealed.The readings and liturgies not only direct us towards Christ’s birth, they also challenge our modern reluctance to confront the big picture of who is really the center of the universe.This portion of Matthew has an apocalyptic orientation, believing that history is divided into two ages - a present age that God would replace with a new age (often called the realm of God or the realm of heaven). The old age is marked by the presence of brokenness, sin, injustice, sickness, politics. The new age will be characterized by the complete rule of God... in peace, tranquility, health, blessing between nature and humankind... as well as eternity.In the story of Noah, none were left, except those spared on the ark... with the narrative of Christ, mercy saves those who need it. For all our disbelief, confusion, distrust, hurt... all of our outrage fatigue... Christ comes to bring peace, here... now... not just later. As with the disciples early on, when Christ calms the storm on the water... Jesus can bring us presence & solace regardless of our current reality.So, how can we prepare room for what really matters?The spiritual life has much more to do with subtraction than it does with addition. -EckhartInstead of adding more “to dos”, perhaps we actively do less. The Gospel is about being awake. We spoke about this last week a bit. Meditate on a single word of prayer each week or day. Each Sunday’s focus of Hope, Peace, Joy, or Love is a place to begin to prepare room.I AM, may this Advent alarm us. Wake us from drowsy living. From the sleep that neglects love and the sedative of misdirected frenzy. Awaken us to the meaning and hope of your arrival, and bend our anger and discontent into your peace. Amen.
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