St. John Catholic Church at 2742 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114 US - 1st Sunday of Advent Year "C"

  Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase occurring once only in the New Testament and also in the Didache which is part of the Apostolic Fathers' collection. It is transliterated into Greek letters rather than translated, and is found at the end of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:22).

“Maranatha” – usually translated: “Lord, come back!”. Many times, on various occasions during the year but especially in the season of Advent, we hear this longing and moving supplication. It wouldn’t be out of place however to sincerely ask ourselves whether we really want it. “Come Lord Jesus, come soon!” – we say and sing in Advent prayers but are we aware what do we actually say or sing? Our life is set or should I say we set it in such a way that there is still going to be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and many, many other years to come. “Maranatha” – and life insurance doesn’t have any sense. “Maranatha” – and there is no more point to fight for reform in health insurance. “Maranatha” – and worries whether your son will pass his exams and your daughter will get the job she has applied for are useless. “Come Lord Jesus, come soon!” Even tomorrow, even tonight!  Sincerely?

Jusus words for the first Sunday of Advent are not a gloomy prophecy, a forecast of dismal days. On the contrary they are meant to give consolation and hope to communities that live in fear and persecution. Jesus tells them: Listen, don’t lower your heads; don’t lose hope. Don’t let yourselves be fooled by cheap comfort. Don’t let yourselves to be dissuaded from longing after the new heaven and new earth. The first Christians, for whom the word were originally addressed, most probably listen to these words with a completely different ear than we do today. We, who would rather look for a paradise in Hawaii and would rather expect a reward for our efforts with the nearest bonus.

We too, however, observe Advent, we also sing: “O come, o come Emanuel!” Therefore before we get lost in the fever of Holiday shopping, deep in our hearts we should ask ourselves: Whom do I really await? For whom or for what do I sincerely long?