[Greek] προσδοκάω (prosdokaō), [Latin] expectare, [Latin] sperare, [Latin] existimare, [French] attendre, [French] apprecier: to watch, to expect, to anticipate, to look forward to, to hope; Mt.11:3k, Mt.24:50, Lk.1:21, Lk.3:15, Lk.7:19-20, Lk.8:40, Lk.12:46, Acts 3:5, Acts 10:24, Acts 27:33, Acts 28:6, 2Pet.3:12-14
We are all now waiting in expectation for Jesus in this Advent season. We also can see those being faithful to Jesus and Catholic teachings are already facing opposition.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to look upon, to expect (in hope or fear), and to suppose to look for.
Plato’s Laws 699b: “By sea too, they saw no hope of safety, with more than 100 warships bearing down against them.”
Plato’s Statesman 275: “Apparently, we must expect a complete description of the statesmen only when we have defined the manner of his rule over the state.”
Polybius’s Histories 23.73: “For they look upon war with Rome as all but at their door, owing to the provocation of Phillip.”
Plato’s Cratylus 438e: “What other way is left by which you could expect to know them?”
Sophocles’ Philoctetes 784: “I look for worse to come.”
Antiphon’s On the Murder of Herodes 5.19: “Although it is hard to refute at a moment’s notice, false charges so carefully framed as one cannot prepare oneself against the unexpected.”
New Testament: This term means to wait, to look for, to expect, and to stay longer than expected. In prison John the Baptist, perhaps with some doubts, asks if Jesus is the one to come. In the parable of the faithful or unfaithful servant, the master will come at an unexpected day and hour. The people were waiting for Zechariah who was made mute by the angel. The crowd waited for and welcomed Jesus. The beggar, expecting something from Peter and John, was healed in Jesus’ name. Cornelius, greatly affected by the apparition, expected Peter at his door. They expected Paul to be injured or killed by the snake.
Scripture:
“The servant’s master will come on an unexpected day (when one is not looking) and at an unknown hour. Mt.24:50
The unfaithful and unprepared servant will be punished by the master. Each of us all must be in that expectant situation where the Lord should find us in.
“Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.” Lk.3:15
Each of us are filled with expectation of the arrival of the Lord. But we all must ask ourselves “Are we really ready?”
“When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for Him.” Lk.8:40
We all will be waiting for Him this Advent season.
Etymology: The Greek verb means to watch (dokeuo) towards (pro-). The Latin verb expectare means to await. The Latin verb existimare means to value and to estimate. The Latin verb sperare means to hope and look forward. The related Latin verb desparare means to be hopeless or to lose hope. To appreciate is to value and to estimate.
Conclusion:
Exist, expect, expectant, expecting, desperation, appreciate, attend, estimate, estimate
In Greek Hellenism, waiting can take on both a sense of fear or hope.
Jesus will come when we least expect it. Each of us will need to be ready for when that time comes. Our Lord’s coming will be happy (for us) if we are ready to meet Him. On the other hand, Our Lord’s coming will not be happy (for us) if we are not ready to meet Him.
Update: Who would have thought (expected) that Pope Francis would have removed Bishop Strickland from his office for having the audacity to uphold Catholic teachings?
Bishop Strickland is not surprisingly facing obstacles for refusing to be a “team player” in towing the Modernist line. We all need to look at his example in being faithful to God.
I would continue to expect that Pope Francis to act in being petty and vindictive against his opponents. Not a good look! Who is going to be next after Cardinal Burke?
I would expect a further continuation of this schism between Traditional (conservative) Catholics and the Modernists, who seem to be creating a new worldly synodal Church.
I think we all can expect that this new worldly synodal Church to stray further from Catholic teachings. One wonders if it should still be called Catholic??
We all must be prepared in expectation of Him.