Home Homilies Michael Whelan SM, PhD

Gospel for the Second Sunday of Advent (Year C) (8 December 2024)

The whole of the Bible is a record of this divine intention. In practice, it becomes a mutual seeking, a seeking veiled in mystery. One party in the seeking is revealed as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The other party – the human creature – is made in the image and likeness of the “I AM”. There is much revealing and concealing that goes on in this relationship – two lovers seeking to find each other!

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Gospel for the First Sunday of Advent (Year C) (1 December 2024)

Eschatology – from the Greek word, eskhatos, meaning “last” – reflects on the “last things”. Eschatology thus addresses the question: Where is it all headed? Apocalyptic – from the Greek word, apokalypsis, meaning “revelation” – describes the style of writing and speaking in the Bible about those “last things”. Apocalyptic literature in the Bible is typically vivid, giving us a sense of a total replacement of the world as we know it with the world as God intends it. Reflection on the “last things” and the manner of that reflection, together proclaim the victory of God. Central to the intent of this proclamation is the message: “Stand firm! Trust in God’s promises!”

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