Patience: A Gift To The Powerful (Mark 13: 33-37)

PATIENCE: A GIFT TO THE POWERFUL

First Sunday of Advent (B)

3 December 2023 – Sunday

First Reading: Isaiah 63: 16b-17, 19b; 64: 2-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Second Reading: First Corinthians 1: 3-9

Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8

Gospel: Mark 13: 33-37

Today we begin the season of Advent. The Advent indicates the beginning of a new liturgical year of the Church. It is a new year of the Church. The Liturgical year of the church is different from that of the January 1st that marks the beginning of the new solar calendar or the Gregorian Calander. As the Gregorian calendar highlights the various events and occasions of every country in it’s own way, so also the church has it’s own liturgical Calander celebrating her various occasions through the Biblical readings. In a liturgical year the readings for Sunday Masses are arranged on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel—Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout all three years. On the first Sunday of Advent of this year, we begin cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus. 

On the whole, Advent is the season of hope for every Christian. The Scripture readings in this season teach us about the fulfilment of the promises prophesied by the prophets. The Messiah will come to return the whole universe and the humankind to God’s original plan. The thirst of the whole creation longs eagerly for the revelation of the Messiah (Rom 8:19). And that will be quenched by the celebration of his birth and life within our own lives. For this, we await, we watch, we prepare to celebrate. Preparation for the second coming of Christ is more important than celebrating Christmas day. And celebrating Pascha is far more important than the celebration of the Christmas. That’s why St Paul says, If Christ has not raised, your faith is futile” (1 Cor. 15:17).

The Season of Advent reminds us of the three-fold waiting for Jesus’ coming. We know that Jesus has already come in history and we remember that during the week before Christmas our waiting changes to waiting for our celebration of the birth of Jesus. We also wait for his final coming at the end times when he will take all to himself.  We also experience his daily coming into our life through the Eucharist, word of God and also in the various persons and events of life.

Scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written around the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. Mark’s audience consisted of Christians who were living in difficult social and political times, times of conflict. They were likely beginning to face persecution as followers of Jesus. In this difficult time, it helped to recall that Jesus had foretold of such difficulties. Early Christian communities took courage from Jesus’ warning to remain alert and watchful, and diligent. They found in his words a way to persevere through suffering and patience. Today’s Gospel reminds us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man and be alert and watchful in today’s struggles of our mother church and difficulties in our personal lives. We watch for the divine healer to come and lead us into his Love. We watch for the opportunities to unite ourselves closer to his love through prayer and sacrifice. The Gospel reading teaches us to have patience in spiritual tensions and not losing the temperament in the midst of hardships.

A tale is told about the Buddha, Gautama (563-483BC), the Indian prince and spiritual leader.  It is said that one day as usual he went for begging food in a village. At a gate of house, he said, “Mata bikshandehi, Buddham saranam gacchami, Sangham saranam gacchami. The lady of the house because of her irritation in the family, rushed out and shouted at him saying, “what is this new sense early in the morning”. Buddha said to her, “Mom, if you give me a little food and if I do not accept it, to whom does it belong?” Of course, it remains with me”, said the lady. “And if I do not accept your shouting to whom does it belong?” The lady could not respond. The realization was given to her.  Whenever a person tries to irritate us or unload their anger on us in the time of our waiting for Jesus, we can choose to decline the anger. The irritative words go back to the giver. Preparing to be watchful for Christ’s coming in this advent, Jesus asks all of us to be composed and diligent. To be on watch is to be aware each day, through prayer and reflection that the ‘today’ of salvation is here and now.