(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture passage.)
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of preparing for the feast of the the light of God coming into the world. The colour for the season is purple.
We know that Jesus is the light of the world and that he is born in Bethlehem.
We know that he grows to be a man and he teaches many things about the Kingdom of God.
We know that he gives all of himself in the bread and the wine before he dies on the cross.
And we know that on the third day, he rises to new life—now so full of the life of God that he can never die again.
We know all this.
We also know that Jesus will come again. He says so.
We call this time to come Parousia.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us about the time when he comes again.
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
Well that does not sound so good, does it? Taken where? Left alone? Which is better? Why will it be like this?
We notice that in the field there are two people.
Grinding meal together are two women.
Not four or twelve or twenty.
Two.
And Jesus does not say, "half of the people will be taken." Each time he says there are two before, and then there will be one.
A long time ago, there used to be a book called "The Good Little Bad Little Girl." At first it seems like it is about two little girls who live in a house, one who does all the good things and one who does all the bad things. Eventually we find out that it is really only one girl, who makes good choices sometimes and make bad choices sometimes.
Like all of us.
When we consider our own choices, there are some we wish we had never made. We wish we could turn back time and try again. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we receive God's forgiveness—a huge gift. We are so grateful. Fresh and clean, we start again.
And still, we are not yet not fully the person we are created to be. We are not yet fully in the likeness of God.
Perhaps, when Jesus comes, the person we are not meant to be will be taken away.
Perhaps the person God created us to be will be left.
Where there were two, there will be one.
If this is the way it is for each of us, then we will be one.
And God will be all-in-all.
