A small private plane was flying with three passengers on board: an old priest, a rich businessman and a boy scout. Suddenly, the engine sputtered and stopped altogether. They all rushed to get their parachutes. They were alarmed to realize that there were not enough parachutes for all of them. One of them will be left without one. The pilot took one, saying, “I have a wife and two kids. They need me.” And off he jumped. The businessman, seeing that the boy was holding a parachute, grabbed it away from him, saying, “I am a very important person in this world. I must not die!’ And putting the straps on his shoulders, he quickly jumped out of the plane. Only the priest and the boy were left on the plane. The priest told the boy, “Son, take the last parachute. I am old and I have no family. I’m ready to leave this world. You are still young and have a great future. Save your life.” The boy, with a naughty smile, said, “Don’t worry, Father. There are still two parachutes left. The ‘very important man in the world’ just jumped out wearing my backpack.”

We are now in the new liturgical period, and this is the first Sunday of Advent. The Season of Advent is a period of four Sundays in anticipation of Christmas. The readings are not about chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Santa Claus or instructing us to begin decorating our homes for Christmas, or about the forthcoming parties and vacations. Instead, they are referring to the terrible events occurring at the end of the world. Jesus explains the events in the Gospel with clarity: the frightening signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, the roaring of the sea and the waves, and people will die of fright. Some of us may even wonder: Is Jesus such a party pooper who likes to spoil the fun? The Gospel, far from spoiling the enjoyment, sets everything in a proper perspective. St. Luke is not trying to deceive us with such devastating words. He is just telling the truth and reality of our existence: everything in this world is going to end. Nothing is permanent. This world and everything in it going to stop. Our life, our body is gone. Rather than frightening us, these are words of hope. Amidst life’s fragility and the uncertainties of the world, Jesus, referred to as the Son of Man, is said to arrive “in a cloud with power and great glory.” “When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Lk 21:28).

The message is very clear. We will surely be disappointed if we are putting our hopes on anything in this world. This is like the man in our story who jumped out of the airplane, not with a parachute on his back, but with the boy’s backpack. This is what is truly terrifying: to confront all these tribulations without God, and to put everything in the hands of an earthly object or person. Let us therefore look to Jesus. In the aftermath of all these passing circumstances, He is our only assurance and hope for eternity and fullness of life. Hence, Jesus admonishes us: “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to overcome the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man” Tribulations, troubles and disasters are already present. These are clear signs of the unreliable nature of our planet and how limited these worldly realities are. We must be vigilant and ask God in prayer so that despite all these, we will still be able to stand before the Son of Man and be saved. Becoming too absorbed in worldly worries, being intoxicated with our selfish ambitions and thirst for power, being occupied in fleeting pleasures and luxury are definitely not the proper ways to “be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Unfortunately, this is precisely what people are into. Jesus referred to this when he said, “But when the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). Let it be a Year of Faith and be a time of renewed commitment and embracing God, reinforcing our faith in God, and proclaiming the Good News of God’s love with joy to our contemporary society. The Advent Season is a time for preparation: for Christmas, for the rebirth of things, and for our own death. The readings are not spoilers; they are reminders. They remind us that everything is passing away, and so let us look up to Jesus. He is not just the backpack; he is the parachute of salvation. If we stay faithful and obedient to Him, we are assured of eternal happiness and glory. As we begin the Advent Season, let it be our firm resolve to heed seriously the call of St. Paul in the second reading: love one another more than ever, conduct yourselves to be pleasing to the Lord, and be blameless in His sight (1Thes 3:12).