Father Tim Lemlin
The gospel writer's intentions are somewhat different. We are not completely sure, but it is believed that when Mark was writing this gospel Jesus was still thought to be returning in the immediate future. He seems to be addressing the leaders of the community of which he is a part. He is warning them that they have an added responsibility to remain alert.
The readings do, however, share a common theme. They both are filled with anticipation. They realize that they are participating in something bigger than themselves. The prophet Isaiah anticipates God redeeming the Israelites. The gospel writer Mark anticipates Jesus returning in the power of God. It is this theme of anticipation that introduces us to the Advent Season.
Advent (literally, "to come") is a season of agony and hope. It occurs, at least in this part of the world, when darkness seems to be defeating light. Nights are longer and colder. All of nature seems to have died. Food is less available; warmth less easy to find. (I read in the newspaper recently that there are 37,000 people who seek shelters in which to sleep in New York City every night.) It is also the season during which light begins to reclaim minutes of time from darkness. Generosity is more evident; caring more easy to find.
This time of waiting, ironically, is for something that has already occurred. God in Jesus was born in time some 2,000 years ago. Yet, it is this birth that we await each year. It has already occurred and still we await it. Maybe what we await is the awareness that God dwells already in each one of us. Maybe we await the awareness that we are participating in God hiding in our lives. We are in agony until our hope is fulfilled. Even when it is, it doesn't remain long.
The mystery of God in our lives has us anticipate Jesus coming again, and realize through participation that Jesus dwells with us now. We can get glimpses of this mystery unfolding whenever we are moved to help another. I see it each time our giving tree loses all of its leaves.
