A Revelation for Children

Gospel: Luke 10: 21-24

Jesus repeatedly tells us that the kingdom of God is for children.  We are reminded again of that fact as we begin Advent and Christmas, seasons in which children revel in the wonder and mystery therein.  The anticipation of receiving gifts, the joy in giving gifts, and the coming together in families and communities of faith are all manifestations of the love that animates this season and that is the core of our faith.

Sadly, such joy and wonder is often lost on us as we become adults and experience the heaviness of the world.  We experience the world of lies, abuse, power, greed, and the machinations of these that oppress the poor and vulnerable.  When so much corruption and evil are experienced in the world, we can't help but have doubts about our wonder and awe of this season.

And yet this Sunday we lit the first candle of Advent, the candle of hope.  We lit this candle to let the world know that in spite of all its grime and filth we continue to hope that the love and joy of our childhood might be made real, that once again love might become incarnate not just in One Person, but in all people who come to answer His call and invitation to love.  

An Unlikely Beginning

Gospel:  Matthew 8: 5-11

The first weekday Gospel text for Advent has us as confused as Peppermint Patty at Thanksgiving - what is all this? Why are we starting with the healing of the centurion's servant in our Advent journey?  In point of fact there could be no more perfect place to begin, for in celebrating Advent we are once again looking for the presence and coming of Jesus among us in our life today, in our here and now of this moment.

None of us has experienced the historical Jesus when he came incarnate among us in Galilee 2000 years ago.  Our encounter with the Lord is like this centurion's servant in today's reading.  We are sick and on the point of death.  We need the healing presence of the Lord, but he does not come to us directly.  He comes to us through the mediation of the Church, of others in our lives just as the centurion did for his servant.  

So today we are reminded of the fact that we are healed through the relationships we have with others, and that we can be a source of healing for others in their life as well.  This season reminds us of the Church's fundamental mission in the world - to be the source of healing and intercession for others in the world.  Advent is our time to renew that commitment to healing and intercession for others before God in the world. 

A New Beginning

Gospel: Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

Religion has two fundamental roles that are useful for our spiritual progress.  The first is the reminder of who we are as a people of God.  Religion reminds us that we are made in the image and likeness of God, that we are another Christ to the world, a temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are vessels in which God dwells, the temple God made for worship and service in the world.

The second role religion plays is as a constant invitation to be aware of the presence of God in the world and in our lives.  When we connect this role to the first, we discover God's presence in the lives of every person we encounter. Each meeting with another person is a graced event where God reveals something to us about ourselves and about God as well.  It is for us to continually reflect on these moments of grace.

If religion is successful at these two roles, then the fear of apocalyptic is not necessary.  We are not so focused on the ever elusive second coming and preparing in fear for that when we have come to discover God already present among us.  If we honor God's presence in other people, we have no fear of a second coming, for we have lived faithfully as the other Christ which God made us to be.