The new year of the Church begins today. As I always tell you, the new year for Christians does not begin January First. For those who know, the First Sunday of Advent begins a new cycle of scripture readings, prayers, celebrations and, hopefully, spiritual and moral growth. In three years’ time we will have read through the Bible and wind up back here with the readings we read today. Yet, as we read today’s readings, there is something that seems somewhat peculiar.

Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus speaking of the end of salvation history. He speaks of the Parousia or “presence” or “arrival”. That is, Jesus’ coming glorified. The passage expresses this in dramatic fashion, hoping to get the attention of those who read it. It is not actually meant to instill trepidation. The scriptures exhort us to have faith in a final act of God that truly culminates human history. This might be the end of time on Earth but not the end of existence. Another way scriptures are at work here is expressing the “end” as eschaton.

More than meaning end as in no more time, eschaton refers to a new age. It speaks to the transformation of our world. With the coming of Jesus already, which we celebrate at Christmas, we actually are in the new age that has already begun. We are in the final age. This is Jesus’s kingly reign. It is a present reality. Jesus reigns NOW through the presence of the Holy Spirit! This age is not something we are still waiting for.

Today’s readings do exhort us to be alert for the moment when all salvation does come to a head, fulfillment. It will be a moment that will last for eternity when all will understand Love, God’s Love and live in and by Love. All that God made known through the centuries will “make sense” to everyone. Those who still are “asleep” morally who wanted to live not loving but gaining earthly wealth and power alone will find the moment shocking. Perhaps they will say in realization, “those followers of Jesus were right all along.” In His compassion, God will, perhaps, give them one more chance to say yes to Him. But why wait until then?

This year’s gospel, the Gospel of Luke, is all about showing us the way to acceptance. Luke connects the many past moments of salvation history with moments in his own time. Then he makes clear these moments or patterns God has demonstrated and calls us to carry on the cause of salvation history to the final moment. If we do, we will not be surprised at the time of culmination, the moment the fruit of love is ripe.

We will recognize the patterns God has made since Old Testament times to now. Throughout time, God has shown one most powerful pattern of His. God makes promises and He KEEPS them! Will we recognize the patterns?

This will be our task this year. Together as Church, we are to recognize the pattern of God as Luke guides us to see them. We will learn from them. Amazingly, we will develop our internal disposition toward salvation, living in God’s Love, to the point our desire for it spills over from our souls. Let our love manifest itself in works of Justice that make others also see the great love of God. May no one be surprised at the realization of the presence of the New Age that has already begun.

Today we begin with the end.