December 9, 2018

2nd Sunday of Advent C
Baruch 5: 1-9; Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6
We are in the wonderful season of Advent.
A beautiful time of hope and joy as we anticipate Christmas in a few weeks. We hear the word ‘joy’ so
often in carols and on Christmas cards and in banners and on ornaments…what does joy mean? It is
defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness…encompassing tears of joy and the joy of being
alive. I ask myself, where am I at today? Where are you at today? Are we too absorbed in our busyness
to reflect on being people of joy? In Baptism we were named for Christ. This means that followers of
Christ are called upon to look around themselves for the presence of Christ in their world and to live so
that others can see Christ present in them. That is what it means to be ‘alive in Christ’. Am I giving
time to myself to see how blessed my life has been? Or am I so caught up in the ‘Christmas rush’ that
I’m not spending time with the most important part of my life — The Now? God has blessed each of
our lives and is with us in the now…do we rush through these moments and miss God’s presence in the
people that are in the now with us? The readings and today’s feast are calling for us to stop…be aware…
of the God moments now. How am I doing in this? What does it take for me to be aware of the NOW?
The first reading is taken from the book of Baruch. He was a well known secretary of the prophet
Jeremiah and is looking back at Jeremiah experiences especially the with the Jewish exiles while in
captivity in Babylon. His main focus is on the repentance of the people who cried out to God having
realized they had abandoned God and His ways. They had lived for themselves alone…God was not in
the picture. Babylon had torn them from their homeland; this made them realize they belonged to God
and begged for His deliverance. Baruch’s imagery uses Jerusalem as a ‘grieving mother’. During their
long exile she wore “a robe of mourning and misery”. Now on their return she wears something entirely
new. The garment is spiritual…it displays the glory of God. God was the one who arranged their return.
The compassionate God of Israel heard their prayers. The path was difficult but “God is leading Israel in
joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.” I take a moment and look at my past life:
how many times and circumstances have I been in that I never thought I would survive…so many
hopeless times…so much fear and trembling…alone…nowhere to turn…and here I am today. It’s all
about God; His infinite wisdom and love…His compassion and care…and I’m grateful.
Paul is already celebrating the good work that is being showcased by the Philippian community. This
was the first Christian community in Europe. In the Acts of the Apostles we hear of the conversion of a
business woman Lydia; the exorcism of a slave girl; and after an earthquake, while Paul and Silas were
imprisoned in Philippi, the faith and baptism of a jailer and his family. These people are not in Paul’s
letter but we hear how this community continued to support him and the persecuted Christians. They are
living the values of Jesus. They see that each day and each moment is an opportunity to live Jesus. J.B.
Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English translates today’s last sentence from Paul so beautifully: “My
prayer for you is that you may have still more love—a love that was full of knowledge and every wise insight. I want
you to be able always to recognize the highest and the best, and to live sincere and blameless lives until the day of
Christ. I want to see your lives full of true goodness, produced by the power that Jesus Christ gives you to the glory
and praise of God.” This is what living in the moment each day with Christ and in Christ means…a
wonderful goal.
St. Luke wrote a gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He sees salvation history consisting in three
periods: that of Israel (Old Testament), Jesus the Messiah (Gospel of Luke) and the new founded church
(Acts of the Apostles). The last prophet of the first period was John the Baptist and he is preparing the
people for the time of the Lord overlapping the second period. This is how today’s reading begins
situating John the Baptist in a specific historical time and place. Luke is specific because God sent the
Lord, the Messiah at a particular and specific time in the history of the world. God has done the same
for each of us. I have wondered ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have lived at this time or place’…and like others,
I daydream. But God’s intention was for me to be here…now…at this place…in this time…blessed
with the unique gifts from the Holy Spirit so that I can be Jesus NOW to those individuals God knows
need to see a witness testimony of His Son.
Jesus’ work was specific…He would set things right: raising valleys, lowering mountains and making
winding paths smooth so that God’s saving love could be accessible to all. All will know of God’s love.
All will be able to see and feel and hear and be touched by and speak of how God has created each
person in love. Love is what it is all about. Love is God. God is love. Is this how we view ourselves?
Stop as often as possible this season to see God’s touches of love.
Franciscan Media gives these suggestions:
A. “Advent is a time of peace and reconciliation. We can do so by extending our hand offering an olive
branch of goodwill and forgiveness toward those who have offended or hurt us.
B. As we stand at the beginnings of a new year, we can forgive the person who is the most difficult to
forgive: ourselves. It is not easy to forgive others, but it is even more challenging to forgive
ourselves.
C. God wipes away our sins when we celebrate Reconciliation; our sins are gone and forgotten.
Advent invites us to deepen our faith in a loving, listening, and forgiving God.
D. Advent is also a season of good change, similar to Lent; we try to make changes in ourselves that
are permanent, not temporary.
E. As we prepare for the wonderful time of Christmas, we are probably distracted by all the hustle and
bustle of the season. Take a few moments at the Christmas creche and contemplate the real meaning
of this season. Prepare the way of the Lord in your life.”
I reflect on:
—How God brings to completion the good work begun in me by Jesus.
—-And the obstacles (valleys…hills…or rough ways) that need removing so that I can experience and
see God’s saving love today.
Sacred Space 2019 shares:
“John, the cousin of Jesus, is a challenging figure. He, the messenger of God, is the sharpened arrow whose
words pierce to the heart’s core. Some people listened to his uncompromising message and changed the direction
of their lives. But others resisted.
Lord, this Advent, give me a welcoming heart. Help me be open to the messengers of Your word, especially to
those whom, at first glance, I might resist, for they are Your prophets today. They urge me to change my way of
thinking and living.”