Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Dec. 3, 2017
Enjoy a close look at The Son of Man Coming in Clouds, a detail from The Last Judgement (1536-1541), by Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) fresco in the Sistine Chapel in Rome that we saw in full in last week’s Illuminations. (Click image to enlarge.)
Advent has come, and with it we turn from Matthew to Mark in our Gospel readings; our Old Testament readings this year will offer an anthology of Israel’s ancestral legends and its earthly kings. Despite the changes, though, the content of this Sunday’s readings stays in harmony with last week’s: God is coming and God will judge. God’s advent may come as a surprise, with fire and upheaval. We must be ready. Here near the end of Isaiah’s great book, the people have returned from exile, but they face harsh reality: The city and the temple were destroyed. They are only a defeated remnant. Oh, God, the prophet cries, come down! Show your might, restore your people. Make us new and forgive our sins.
Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Our Psalm echoes Isaiah’s call, sending up three times to God the anguished cry, “Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.” The people have suffered. God’s punishment has forced them to endure their enemies’ derision and laughter. They have eaten and drunk their tears like bread and water. Send us a messiah, the prophet pleads – the son of man at God’s right hand – and the people will never turn from God again.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a deeply pastoral epistle that will address serious fractures in a small, passionate Greek Christian community. Paul begins with no hint of conflict, though, using in the formal style of ancient Greek correspondence: He sets the scene by greeting the people with grace and peace, reminding them that grace has come to them through Jesus and enriched them, filling them with spiritual gifts. Because of this, Paul assures them, they will be ready, strong and blameless when Christ returns.
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37
In our first reading, Isaiah prayed for God to come with justice after the first destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Now, just as the Romans are destroying the city and the temple for a second time, Mark’s Gospel foresees Jesus coming in clouds, in power and glory. In an apocalyptic passage that echoes the Prophet Joel, we hear that the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the skies. This will be a tumultuous time, Jesus warns his followers, so they must watch for signs of his return. Like the wise bridesmaids with their oil-filled lamps, they must stay awake, ready and alert.