The tension of “already” and “not yet” in our spiritual life

Dec 15, 2023

Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr Dr Lawrence Ng

3rd Sunday of Advent (B)
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24;
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

Tensions are a part of our daily lives
This Sunday’s readings bring us to consider that we live between the tension of “already” and “not yet” within our spiritual journey and relationship with God. The word “tension” used here is not stress-related but has another meaning. It is the art of balancing and holding in place a relationship between two opposing realities. In reality, we do this daily, often without conscious realisation.

Consider a couple in a marriage. There are moments when they will feel that they “already” understand each other, maybe even completely. Yet, if they look deeper, they will discern a deeper truth — that is, their understanding is but a snapshot in the evolving story of their life together. It is “not yet” complete, and this realisation will remind them that seeking a complete understanding is part and parcel of their life together.

Tensions are necessary in our spiritual life
Reflecting on this within the context of our life with God, have we felt a profound sense of completeness and fulfilment? These are the “already” moments of our spiritual experiences. It is a moment of communion with the divine where gratitude and love for God overflows that we feel nothing else is needed. Yet, there are times when we crave more and we hunger for a deeper connection with God. In these moments of spiritual hunger, the “not yet” whispers, urging us to strive, desire, and embark on a journey of continuous discovery.

This tension is then good and necessary for our growth. It teaches us not to shy away from incompleteness but to embrace it as an essential part of the journey. We live within the tension of emptiness and fulfilment, discord and harmony, and between ignorance and understanding.

God is experienced as “already” and “not yet”
In this context, we can say that God is experienced as “already” and “not yet”. Theologians usually speak of “already” and “not yet” within the context of God’s kingdom or eschatology. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Though already present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled ‘with power and great glory’ by the King’s return to earth” (671).

The tension between the “already” and “not yet” is what the season of Advent makes us reflect. We speak of Advent as the period of preparation for the birth of Christ, but Advent also reminds us to reflect on the reality of the second coming of Christ.

Insights from Sunday’s reading
The first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah speaks of God sending his Spirit to his anointed one. We believe that all these are fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus, as God’s anointed, had brought good news to the poor, healed, and proclaimed liberty. However, Jesus also gives us his Spirit. The words of the prophet are then fulfilled in us too. We “already” received anointing at our Confirmation. Now, we must live out the reality of living by the Spirit to bring the good news and heal hearts that are broken.

How can we bring about this reality? This is where the second reading in St Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians gets interesting. We are in the process of being transformed to be as Jesus was because God, who gives us life through His Spirit, makes it possible.

St Paul understood and lived within the tension of “already” and “not yet”. He himself was transformed by his experience of Christ on the road of Damascus. Yet, Paul, who proclaims that for him to live is Christ, speaks of fulfilment that can be completed only by the coming of Christ. In today’s reading, he prays that the Thessalonians will be kept safe until Christ comes again.

Empowered by our sense of incompleteness
At this point, one might ask, what is the point of reflecting on the tension of “already” and “not yet” in our lives? The point is that we are given all that we need for our journey. However, no matter how complete we feel our life here is, it is not the destination. We must not forget the strivings for God that must always be part of our journey. The tension we derive from our strivings or sense of incompleteness may even prevent us from being complacent.

The Gospel presents us with John the Baptist declaring that he is not Christ. He only witnesses to the fact that Christ is among and unknown to them. A scripture scholar writes, “It is not always easy to find Jesus.” The Gospel is littered with stories of those who failed to recognise Jesus. Often, Jesus had to point out or indicate who he was, such as to Mary Magdalene at the tomb or to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

May our sense of “incompleteness” within the context of the “not yet” of our lives push us to seek always to recognise Jesus in our lives. May it not make us shy of speaking of that which we strive for – a life of complete union with God. May it give us the courage to witness in our lives that true meaning and joy can only come from God. May it make us charitable and merciful. In the meantime, let the words of St Paul in Philippians 3:14 be ours, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”