Past, Present and Future
November 27, 2005
I remember some years ago round about this time of year going to Mass in Milan and hearing the priest welcome us "on this fifth Sunday of Advent." Fifth Sunday of Advent? Some mistake surely? But no, it transpired that in the diocese of Milan, where Mass is celebrated in what they call the Ambrosian rite, there are six weeks of Advent rather than just four. Just like Lent in fact. So it looks like they take their preparation for the season of Christmas very seriously indeed.
However, let our shorter Advent not mean that we are any less serious in trying to prepare ourselves to celebrate the feast of the Lord's Incarnation. In the gospel today, Jesus invites us to "be on our guard", to "stay awake." Sounds like hard work, doesn't it? But Jesus is simply inviting us to cultivate a greater sensitivity to his presence and to the many ways in which he comes into our lives. He is trying to help us be more alert to his saving activity in the world in which we live. He wishes us to notice him more and to begin to work more in harmony with him rather than to be an obstacle to his work in the world. And the more that happens, the greater will be our joyfulness at Christmas time.
In the sacrament of the Eucharist, all time dimensions, past, present and future, are at work. We recall a definite event in the past, namely Christ's passion and death. We see how that self-giving of Christ to his people continues in the present, and we remember how this sacrament is "a pledge of future glory", a promise of our glorious destiny in God's kingdom. The same goes for the season of Advent. We remember a definite event in the past, namely Christ's birth as a human being in Bethlehem, we become more aware of his activity in our present, and we look forward to his return in glory, when he will lead us all into the presence of God. Past, present and future, there is no part of human existence where Christ is not present and active. Maybe this Advent we could take time to ponder these things, so that when the time comes to kneel at the Christmas crib we can with great gratitude and generosity ask the newborn saviour what we can do
for him.
Fr Hugh Duffy SJ, Farm
Street SVP
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