December 6, 2015

2nd Sunday in Advent C Baruch 5: 1-9; Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6 I have already started to receive Christmas cards and a few invitations have arrived for gatherings and parties. I enjoy these. I read the cards and the messages. The cards tell me of the beauties surrounding us, the glory and wonder of God’s presence and interaction with us and different twists on Jesus’ birth — God’s presence in each of our lives. The messages fill in the blanks of dear friends during the past year — what is happening in their lives, how we touched each other and where some prayers are needed. Today’s readings bring out similar messages and at the same time help me to receive the grace that God is offering me and everyone this Advent as we prepare for Christmas. The Advent questions are much the same: how can I spend more time in prayer…how can I put God first…Jesus said that each person is to be the ‘light of the world,' so how can people see God’s light in me and how can I walk in this ‘light’? The bottom line of everything Christmas is Jesus. Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’…there is really only one gift at Christmas and that is Jesus. The readings tell me this today. Now is the ‘gift of Jesus’ to me my continuing daily reflection? It should be…it has to be if I am using this Advent time in preparation for Christmas. Baruch, Paul and John are offering hope and transformation. Am I a source of hope and transformation? Do people see that I am working on my conversion to put Christ first? Do people see in me the necessity of change to be more like Jesus? Baruch is a prophet who was a friend of Jeremiah and served as his secretary and scribe. Along with Jeremiah he witnessed the sad decline of the kingdom of Judah. Years of sin and ignorance of God’s word of life had brought about their defeat and exile. Baruch is telling us today that things have changed. The people had prayed sincerely asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness and today they hear God’s response, wake up “put on the splendor of glory from God forever…for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.” God is with them. God is always present to them. God cares for them. God loves them. God forgives them. Do I let God be the same with me? What does this knowledge of God do for me? In the same context, Paul writing to the Philippians says, “I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.” Paul has journeyed with these people in their sufferings and in their joy and he is confident that they will continue to grow in love and in every virtue. Paul must have been conscious of their daily working on ‘changing’ their lives from their old way without Christ to their new way with Christ. They have been hearing Jesus’ words of love and service and have put these in their lives. This requires a daily life lived in and with the gospel of love. That’s how they are preparing for the end of their life and for the end of the world whichever comes first. How am I preparing for Christ this Christmas? What do I see in my life that needs change? Where do I envision that contrary attitudes to the gospel have creeped in? I have to constantly be aware that the devil does not want people to see Jesus in me. Advent is a time to take a moment or two each day to sit and reflect on how I am renewing my relationship with God. So I step back from the ads and consumerism and materialistic trappings of Christmas and look to Jesus, look at Jesus in the crib and on the cross and see that God is with me in my daily journey of joys and sufferings. Luke in his gospel reflects on John the Baptist and how he insisted on each person’s life being filled with repentance for all sins and non-love. When I am hurting others with jealousy, pride, revenge, getting even, ‘how dare you do that or say that to me,' when I’m giving in to my lustful, bullying, arrogant ways, I am in opposition to love. I am living as though I am the only person and the best person and the master of all. John is asking me if I am I preparing for living the Lord’s way? He is asking how I am showing people the path to God is one of caring, forgiving, compassion, love and mercy. He emphasized this with a deep sense of urgency. If the people I meet today, see in me nonlove where are they going to find love? I was quite aware in my teaching years that I might be the only people this student could see love in. So what do I do today to act ‘in love’? John in the end of his prophecy today says, “The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” God has come in Jesus and told us that ALL are included in His love. ALL are called to be in heaven. God’s salvation is universal. It is open to all people regardless of what has happened in their lives. Jesus is now restoring the people of God and each person’s role is essential and needed. St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, found her meaning in life from Paul’s letter to the 1 Corinthians 13, ‘I am to be love!’ I ask how am I doing on love this week and what can I do next week? I like this week’s reflections in Living the Word, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days, “Do you notice how specific Luke is about when John the Baptist received the word of God? Luke’s list of political and religious leaders makes clear that John ministered at a specific time and place, just as Jesus was born during a specific historical time. God seeks us out in various times and situations Baruch offers consolation and hope to a people in exile. Paul writes to a generous Philippian community, which joins him in living the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our readings make clear that God constantly seeks to be with us and will come again to bring mercy and justice, knowledge and light, and offer saving love to all flesh. The timeless One becomes human in time, making us witnesses in every time, every now of our life. Life could be described as a series of consecutive nows. Any now could be our last. I recently learned about a friend who had a massive heart attack while taking his nightly walk. He died a few days ago at age 55. So I ask myself, how can God’s love increase more and more in me today? What do I really value? How can my faith in Jesus Christ make a concrete difference today to all those people who are in my life now? Do I prepare the way of the Lord by means of a willingness to face hurt in ways that offer mercy, injustice in ways that seek God’s economy, and darkness and sin in ways that shine with the light of God’s consolation, hope, and peace? Pick one of these questions. Allow the Holy Spirit to do great things for you so that we can be filled with joy today.” So I reflect on: • What are some of the ‘rough roads’ in my life now? Who will smooth them for me? Who needs me right now to help smooth their ‘rough roads’? • Paul is asking me how I am promoting and living the Gospel of love…and I answer..? • Injustice, evil, terrorism, hatred are in the world big time. What am I doing in my world to bring the peace, joy and love of God? Sacred Space 2016 says: “The paths I follow are often crooked, diverting me from my eternal goal. What can I do to make my path to God straight?