1st Advent
Luke 21:25-36
And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars;
and upon the earth, the nations will be constricted with anxiety and doubt with
the advent of these spiritual revelations, as before a roaring sea and waves.
And men will lose their inner strength of soul out of fear and foreboding of
what is coming over the living earth: for the dynamic powers of heaven will be
shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, in the sphere
of life, with dynamic power and great radiant glory.
And when these things begin to
happen, stand upright and lift up [raise] your soul to the spirit, for your
deliverance draws near.
And he gave them a comparison, saying, ‘Observe
[behold] the fig tree and all the trees when they burst into leaf. Seeing this,
you know yourselves that summer is near. So also when you see these things
happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Amen, the truth I say to you: this present age of
Man’s being shall not pass away until all has happened.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
never pass away.
Guard yourselves lest the perceptive power of your
hearts be smothered by excess of food and drink and by over-concern with the
cares and worries of life, and the light of these spirit events break upon you
suddenly like a snare…for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the
whole earth. So be awake in the spirit at all times, praying, so that you may
have the strength to live through all these things that are about to take
place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
1st Advent Sunday
Luke 21: 25 – 36
Our experience of the world at any moment is often divided
into polarities like inner and outer. But we can see, if we look closely, that,
over time, like the rose, inner becomes outer and outer becomes inner, in a
kind of breathing.
Today’s Gospel reading has something of this same quality.
It starts with a profusion of outer signs, in sun, moon and stars. They are
transported inward and become fear and anxiety. But at the same time, like the
crown of the rose, the Son of Man appears ‘in great radiance and glory.’ He
seems to come from outside, ‘in a cloud’. And yet His qualities, His
uprightness, His soul rising to the spirit, can also be absorbed inwardly by
human beings. The outer becomes inner. He gives inner strength and uprightness and
awakens prayer.
The reading makes it clear that the quality and accuracy of
our perception is of utmost importance. For perception is the doorway, the
entryway into our souls. We are to keep the threshold clear and free of the
debris of material excess and free of worry. We are to keep calm and open watch
at the doorway of the soul and recognize the signs: just as new leaves signal
summer’s return, so do dire outer signs signal the approach, the nearness of
the Divine Human Being. We are to perceive His presence. We are to invite Him
into the soul’s house, take Him in. For He is our heart’s calm center.
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| Sanz-Cardona |
Meister Eckhart wrote,
What is the prayer of a heart grown
calm
in the peace of
God?
From such a purity one no longer
prays
as we are wont to
pray.
…A heart in calm detachment asks
for nothing, nor
has anything
it would wish to
shed.
Its prayer is finally only for
uniformity
with God. This is
its entire prayer.
…With such a disposition you
can easily accept
honors and ease.
Should hardships and disgrace
arrive,
you will bear them
also, and be
oddly pleased to
bear them.[1]
www.thechristiancommunity.org
[1]
Meister Eckhart, “The Prayer of a Heart Detached”, and “Unburdened”, in Love’s
Immensity, Mystics on the Endless Life, Scott Cairns, p. 99.
