Uncertainty is quite a disturbing state of being especially to a
generation accustomed to pressing buttons. We have come to expect that life’s
solutions can be got from merely a push of a button. However, the vigil’s liturgy
is pretty much that of “uncertainty” as in “already and not yet”. If you like,
this is best captured by the caricature of children in a car asking
incessantly: “Are we there yet”.
How can one understand and describe this notion of "already and not yet"?
Listen to the Preface II for Advent.
For all the oracles of the prophets foretold Him, the Virgin Mother longed for
Him with love beyond all telling, John the Baptist sang of His coming and
proclaimed His presence when He came. It is by His gift that already we rejoice
at the mystery of His Nativity, so that He may find us watchful in prayer and
exultant it His praise.
An observation may be made here. This Mass is called the Vigil Mass. The
Latin vigilia, from which we derive the term "vigil", means to keep
watch. The Church designates the day before a feast or a solemnity as a Vigil
because its nature is to prepare for a greater day that is to follow. Through
the liturgy, this is one way the Church keeps close to the injunction of Her
Lord and Saviour to “keep watch and pray”. So, in some countries, today is also
a day of fasting. They fast to heighten the reception of the day that is to
come.
Thus, in this so-called interim period, there is a profound sense that
what we want is already here but not completely yet. It is by His gift that
already we rejoice and this is important. Why?
"Already and not" yet allows us to catch a glimpse of heaven. For many of
us, "already and not yet" is unnerving because we want to catch heaven
instantaneously. If you take a moment to reflect, all our experiences of
exhilaration are but glimpses of heaven. What it means is that we want the
access to heaven on tap—as in we devise ways and means to heighten our
exhilaration. Is it any wonder why recreational drugs are part of the culture
of our youths?
It is not to say that we should not have any excitement or wonderment. In
fact, it is a testament of trust in God that we dare leave aside our worries
and concentrate on the moment, to enjoy the moment, to savour the moment… even
if we are at a loss, even if we have no work and even if we are struggling to
come to terms with the death of our loved ones.
Why? Because it is already and also not yet.
This is why Jesus dared speak to Judas in a way which was shocking, a way
which seemed to canonise an aberration which today we are trying so hard to
eradicate. He said, “The poor you always have with you”. What this means is
that we may banish all hunger in the world but it is still not heaven. We may
resolve every conflict in the world and we would not even approximate paradise.
And the list goes on. Yet, this is not an admission of defeat as the Catechism reminds
us that Christ the Lord already reigns through the Church, but all the things
of this world are not yet subjected to Him. But, one thing certain is that with
Christ at the helm of His Church, in a nation, in our family and of us, we dare
to celebrate. In fact, when God seems to be at His weakest as in the helpless
babe, we encounter His greatest providence.
Thus, this evening’s liturgy is full of hope. "Already and not yet" points
us in the direction of God. Already as in God will be there and we do not need
to play God. Thus, tonight, let us leave God to be God and let us joyfully wait
for the moment when the Saviour of the world will burst into our lives.
