To-day's Gospel becomes the second half of to-morrow's Gospel. Such a repetition is unusual. To-morrow is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year. To-day is the last day of the current year. Let us think about endings.

Luke was struggling to convey an important message to the early Christians and to us. The early Christians were deeply moved by the accounts they had of Jesus. They longed for him to come back and put an end to the daily difficulties we all face and to the particular trials they faced in a hostile religious environment. Some of them became frustrated by the delay in Jesus' return. They began to relax a bit too much. Was it all a dream?

Luke told them that the dream was a reality because Christ was already with them in God's kingdom which was established. He pointed out that, in the name of the Lord, good things were being done. He encouraged them to live their faith.

We should not worry, then. We are on a winning team with Jesus and we must keep on playing. At the hour of our death God's loving final whistle will put an end to our part in the great game. All that remains will be our incorporation into the overall victory.