Tag Archives: Advent

The Gospel reading teaches us some important lesions on evangelization.  John the Baptist was calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River. 

Such large numbers of people were being baptized by John that it drew the attention of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.  The problem is that John the Baptist didn’t fit the mold of a priest like his father. 

John Pilch helps us to understand the culture at that time:

“In cultures guided by honor, persons are expected to behave according to their inherited status.  The Baptizer’s status or acquired honor derived from the fact that his father, Zechariah, was a devout rural priest. 

But the Baptizer is not behaving like a priest.  (It’s interesting to note that Jesus finds himself in the same situation; his father was a carpenter but he is acting as a rabbi or teacher.)  Instead, John looks very much like a member of the numerous groups of alienated priests that emerged as early as the sixth century BCE.  These groups found themselves increasingly separated from the aristocratic priests in Jerusalem. 

The historian Josephus indicates that the gulf between the latter and the large number of lower clergy was very great just before the outbreak of the Judaic rebellion against Rome in the mid-sixties CE. 

A major cause of alienation was the widely known and very evident luxury in which the Jerusalem priestly aristocracy lived in contrast to the conditions of the rural clergy.  

By his dress and diet, the Baptizer distances himself from this luxury and his rural priestly heritage and presents himself more like a prophet, a spokesperson who declares the will of God for the here and now. 

The Jerusalem priests wonder whether John is an “action prophet” (a spokesperson who also leads a popular movement hoping that God will intervene in liberating action) or an “oracular prophet” (one who only pronounces words of redemption or judgment).“  

The Gospel tells us that John the Baptist was neither: “A man named John was sent from God.  He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.” 

The church leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to find out who John is because such great numbers are going out and being baptized by him.  These representatives ask John ‘Who are you?’ 

John immediately told them that he was not the Christ, nor a prophet.  “So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself?”  It’s interesting that they weren’t really concerned with who John is but only needed an answer for the people who sent them. 

John said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’ “as Isaiah the prophet said.” 

Obviously, the leaders in Jerusalem weren’t satisfied with the answers they received from the priests and Levites because they sent some Pharisees who asked John “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 

So why are the leaders so upset that John is baptizing people in the Jordan River?  Because of the numbers of people who were going out to John to repent of their sin and be baptized.  And because John doesn’t fit the mold or image of a Priest. 

John fulfilled his mission in life and answered them pointing to Jesus, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 

We sometimes think that baptism is a Catholic or Christian rite.  But John Pilch tells us that “Baptism was rather common in antiquity even outside of Judaism.  The mystery cults of Isis, Mithras, and Eleusis contained baptismal rites.  In the Old Testament, Naaman was cleansed of his skin problem by bathing in the Jordan.”  

We baptize new converts at the Easter Vigil and our children throughout the year to mark them with the seal of the Holy Spirit.  And we baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  That is what separates us from the other baptisms. 

Granted, John was a little unusual.  He dressed differently from the other people and even more so from the other priests in Jerusalem.  When I look over at Father, he is not dressed in a camel hair cloak with a leather belt around his waist and sandals on his feet. 

But the people didn’t seek John out because of the way he was dressed.  They came because of the message that John preached; a message of repentance of their sins and baptism by water.  And you didn’t come to see how Father is dressed, you came to receive the presence of Jesus into your life through the Eucharist. 

There are two questions that we need to consider today.  Are we, the people of St Joseph Catholic Church in York PA, standing out as people who are doing something so great that others are flocking to join us?  Are we a beacon in this area that people will travel to see what we are doing to convert to our faith in Christ? 

And then, are we as individuals, living a life that has other people coming to us and asking us about our faith so we, like John, can point them to Jesus? 

The Gospel that Jesus taught was to love God with all our heart and to love others as much as we love ourselves.  That’s what makes us stand out from others.  When we receive the Holy Eucharist, we receive Jesus’ presence into our hearts and lives.  His love then flows through us to others.  Am I so filled with the joy of Jesus’ presence that it flows through me to everyone I meet? 

We typically think of Advent as a time of waiting and preparation.  Waiting for the celebration of Christ coming to earth as one of us and preparation to receive him into our hearts and lives. 

Advent is also a time of Hope.  The Psalm response for today is “Lord make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.”  “Let us see your face and we shall be saved.” is a plea for God’s help in times of distress and chaos.  In spite of all the gloom and doom in the world today, there is still hope. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful!  Be alert!  Be watchful for what?  Be alert for what?  Is this to be a time of waiting, a time of preparation? 

Jesus continues with a parable to give us some insight to what he means.  The head of a household goes off on a trip.  Each person in the household is expected to perform their duties while the head of the household is gone.  The gatekeeper is told to watch for the return of the lord of the house.  That is the only way the gatekeeper can alert the rest of the household to be ready to welcome the return of the master. 

John Kavanaugh, a Jesuit professor of Philosophy at St Louis University, wrote: “The words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark may be read not only as a warning about the end times, but as a challenge for us to live in the present, to engage life now, to be attentive to the moment at hand.  It is the call of Advent itself.  Be awake.  Do not put off the opening of your life to God.” 

The words in the Gospel of Mark could be taken as a time of waiting for the Second Coming of Christ.  But Fr Kavanaugh is saying that these words should be a call to action right now; “Open our hearts to God and follow him.” 

Opening our hearts is difficult for us to do.  Seeking God’s will in the chaos of life gets lost in the busyness of living; trying to get a promotion at work, shuttling the children to gymnastics, soccer, music lessons and Religious Ed.  It never seems to end. 

In all of this “Living” we often begin to feel despair and that nothing matters.  We begin to feel worthless as though we are just going through the motions without any real purpose in life. 

God feels that we are worth a lot to him.  But do we feel that we have worth?  Have the criticisms from others chipped away at us that we feel as though we are only going through the motions, that no one really cares let alone appreciates what we do? 

With all the frenzy of Christmas and the demands of preparing and organizing dinners, parties and get togethers, it’s easy to feel that we don’t matter, that we just have tasks to do and that no one cares.  We begin to feel worthless to the world around us. 

I stopped in Cleveland and had dinner with Fr Dave on my way home from Seattle last month.  Fr Dave talked about his prison ministry and explained how he tries to help everyone know that they have worth.  In today’s world with all the darkness and chaos it’s hard for a person to feel that they have worth, that they are valuable to someone. 

This can easily happen to us.  Our society demands that we conform to the concepts that are put before us or we are an outcast.  If we hold to our Catholic faith, it can cost us a promotion at work, award of a scholarship or inclusion in the groups at school and even within our church. 

Each of us are made in God’s image.  God loves us as the unique individual that we are with all of our quirks, idiosyncrasies, faults and even our sins.  God loves us so much that even in our sinfulness and tuning away from his love for us, he sent his Son to bring his love, mercy, and forgiveness to each of us by dying on the cross to provide for our salvation. 

The first trope of the Kyrie today “you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father” is the mission of the church.  Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  It’s impossible to love others if we don’t love and respect ourselves. 

God’s mercy and forgiveness is there for everyone, even me.  We don’t do anything to obtain it and we can’t earn it, it’s a gift from God.  We know that we are unworthy of God’s love in our sinfulness yet if we open our lives and hearts God will fill us with his love and his mercy and he will forgive us our sins. 

We live in chaotic times, and we are so busy that it seems impossible to slow down.  Slowing down is extremely difficult to do any time of the year and especially as we approach Christmas.  The result is that we fail to open our hearts to receive God’s love to enable us to share his love with everyone we meet. 

If we heed the words of Fr Kavanaugh, we begin to open our lives and hearts to God so his love, mercy and forgiveness can begin to heal us and give us a feeling of worth.  This is the Hope of Advent! 

Do I feel as though I am just taking care of everyone else, or do I feel that I have worth as a child of God?  Am I so busy with all the demands of living that I don’t even have time to pray?  

Jesus tells us to watch and be alert for his return.  We typically think of this as his second coming at some point in the future and neglect to open our hearts now.  Lord Jesus, help us to open our hearts now so we can help everyone to have a sense of worth in a world that doesn’t to care for the outcast and marginalized of society. 

There are many parallels between yesterday’ Gospel from Matthew and today’s Gospel from Luke. 

In yesterday’s Gospel of Matthew, the annunciation of Jesus’ conception is given to Joseph rather than to Mary.  In today’s Gospel of Luke, the annunciation of John the Baptist’s conception is given to Zechariah instead of Elizabeth. 

The major difference is the age of the couples.  Joseph and Mary are young and ready to raise a family.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are old and beyond the age of bearing children. 

Even though they are old they prayed for a child.  The Gospel tells us “Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.”  Observing the commandments was a moral obligation and observing the ordinances was a ceremonial or liturgical obligation. 

Zechariah was serving in the Temple and was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.  An angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.”  Zechariah had obviously been praying for a child because the angel tell him that his prayer was heard and proceeds to tell him that Elizabeth will bear a son and they will name him John. 

The angel continues to tell Zechariah “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”  The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible explains that this last phrase means that the baby will be greater than all the prophets of the Old Testament before him. 

In the Gospel of Mathew Jesus confirms this when he said “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” 

The angel also tells Zechariah that John will “drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.  The commentary explains that means he shall be a Nazarite, or “a separated one”. …. the Nazarite was a symbol of holiness; nothing inflaming was to cross his lips; no razor to come on his head; no ceremonial defilement to be contracted. Thus was he to be “holy to the Lord [ceremonially] all the days of his separation.” This separation was in ordinary cases temporary and voluntary: only Samson, Samuel, and John Baptist were Nazarites from the womb. 

Zechariah doesn’t believe the angel because of their age when he asks ““How shall I know this?   For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”  It’s so like our mortal nature that we pray for a miracle and then question it when it happens.  Zechariah prayed for a child even though they were past the age of bearing children and then doubts that the miracle he prayed for can happen. 

But God did provide the miracle in spite of Zechariah’s unbelief and John the Baptist was born to point all of us to the One who is to come.  John said “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” 

John was a messenger who pointed others to Christ.  Do we do the same in our lives?  Do we point others to Christ by the way we live our lives? 

This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  We are in the final week of Advent preparing for the birth of Christ.  One concept in today’s Gospel stands out. 

Kindness

How did that Kindness come about? 

Matthew tells us that “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.  Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” 

It’s hard for us to understand the culture of that time.  In our society, it’s acceptable to have sex with many partners and living together instead of marrying your partner is the norm.  Sex between engaged couples is commonplace.  Today, those who hold to the sanctity of marriage believe it is right to be a virgin on your wedding night are scoffed at and ridiculed. 

Father Ron Rolheiser explains “The Jewish law was especially strict as to the couple remaining celibate while in the betrothal period.  During this time, the young woman would continue to live with her parents and the young man would go about setting up a house and an occupation so as to be able to support his wife once they began to live together.” 

John Pilch gives us a better understanding of the marriage process in the ancient Mediterranean culture. 

“Though a betrothed couple did not live together, a formal divorce was required to break the public establishment of the betrothal.  Sex with a betrothed woman was considered adultery. 

In the ancient Mediterranean world, marriages were arranged by parents to join extended families and not individuals.  The bride did not expect love, companionship, or comfort.  In this rigidly gender-divided world, men and women had very little contact.  Both partners realized that their union was arranged for the political or economic advantage of their families. 

The entire marriage process is a ritualized removal of a woman from her family.  The groom’s father offers gifts or services to the bride’s father to win the wife he wants for his son.  The bride’s father makes the final decision. 

The women of both families negotiate the contract to be certain neither family is shortchanged, but the patriarch of each family ratifies the contract publicly.  When the groom takes the bride into his home, the marriage process is completed.” 

We often think of the Old Testament culture being dominated by men, yet John Pilch tells us that the mothers negotiate the contract to protect their interests even though the fathers ratify it publicly. 

Ron Rolheiser writes “Joseph and Mary were at this stage of their relationship, legally married but not yet living together, when Mary became pregnant. Joseph, knowing that the child was not his, had a dilemma: if he wasn’t the father, who was? In order to save his own reputation, he could have demanded a public inquiry and, indeed, had Mary been accused of adultery, it might have meant her death. However, he decided to “divorce her quietly,” that is, to avoid a public inquiry which would leave her in an awkward and vulnerable situation.”  

Matthew tells us that “since he (Joseph) was a righteous man” he acted with Kindness. 

What did it mean to be a righteous person for Joseph?  Ron Rolheiser tells us that “the Joseph of the Christmas story writes his own history: he is presented to us as an “upright” man, a designation that scholars say implies that he has conformed himself to the Law of God, the supreme Jewish standard of holiness.  In every way he is blameless, a paradigm of goodness …” 

Joseph conformed himself to the Law of God.  That is an accomplishment that very few people attain.  Each of us here today are following in St Joseph’s footsteps.  We are striving to live a life of holiness as we worship in this holy place. 

God is always described in the Bible as full of Love and Mercy; in the Old Testament for the Children of Israel and in the New Testament for all people including us today.  The final prayer in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy ends with “but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.” 

If Joseph conformed himself to the Law of God, he would have lived a life of love and mercy toward everyone he met.  This love and mercy revealed itself as kindness toward Mary.  He did not want to cause Mary any undue stress even though he had every right. 

Both Mary and Joseph had a lot that could go very wrong, but they trusted in the message the angel gave them from God.  Mary knew that she could be accused of adultery and stoned to death.  And yet she said “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.^” 

Joseph could have publicly shamed Mary to defend his own reputation.  John Pilch writes “The honor code of the Mediterranean world demands that no one take what properly belongs to another.  Mary’s child is not Joseph’s, so he hesitates to take the child.  But if he doesn’t act quickly, he will be shamed.  His sense of honor hopes that the rightful father will seize this opportunity to claim the child and marry the woman, Mary.  In all of his decisions, Joseph acts very honorably.” 

By law, Joseph is entitled to return Mary to her father and expose her to death.  He decided to quietly divorce her because he is a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to shame.  

Joseph acted with kindness. 

Kindness

It’s something we see so little of today.  It’s so easy to be upset and angry with people we meet.  The rude person in the grocery store, the person who cut us off on the highway, the relative who knows how to hit not just one but all our buttons, or the homeless person on the corner. 

Despite all the anger, hatred, hurtful people out there we must act with kindness toward everyone we meet. 

As we come to receive Christ in the Eucharist, we must open our hearts and lives to Christ so his Love and Mercy flows through us to others. 

Kindness 

Will I strive to follow the example of St Joseph in my life?  Who will I be kind to this week? 

The Gospel of Matthew is the first of the four Gospels.  The early church believed that it was written first.  It also begins with the genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham coming through the centuries to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, so it is in the logical sequence for it to be first.  Later studies indicate that the Gospel of Mark was written first.

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the visit by the Magi, the massacre of the Holy Innocents, the flight to Egypt and the return are all covered by the end of the second chapter. 

The Gospel of Matthew makes this transition from the start of John the Baptist’s ministry to the start of Jesus’ ministry very quickly.  After Jesus is tempted by the devil and John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus moves to Capernaum by the sea and begins his ministry. 

We know from the Gospels that there was a very close connection between John the Baptist and Jesus from the very beginning.  Elizabeth and the infant John both recognized the Divinity of Christ in the womb of Mary. 

In the Gospel of Luke, we read: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord^* should come to me?” 

After the end of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus comes to John the Baptist in the Jordan River to be baptized.  At first John is reluctant because he recognizes Jesus as the one who is mightier than he.  Jesus tells John that it needs to be accomplished for the glory of God.  This makes the bond between them even stronger. 

In the Gospel reading for today, John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” In the next chapter, Jesus starts his ministry with the same words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  

This phrase “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” will be heard frequently in the coming liturgical year.  Sometimes it will be “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”, depending on the Gospel.  These two phrases are used over one hundred times in the Gospels. 

It is interesting that this phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” which only appears in the Jewish based Gospel of Matthew, is used over thirty times.  What is so unique and so important about this phrase that it is used so many times? 

In Jesus’ time, the people knew about kingdoms and authority.  Caesar was in Rome but ruled with absolute force.  Anyone who opposed Rome was brutally dealt with in the public view so that all would see what happens to those who dare oppose Caesar. 

The Jewish people also understood the Kingdoms could be good like King David who ruled the people with fairness and love.  Much of the Old and New Testaments refer to Christ as King, coming in his glory as King of all the earth. 

The people of Jesus’ time wanted a political kingdom like their father David who would overthrow the Roman Empire and free the people from the bondage and oppression they experienced every day. 

It’s amazing that neither Jesus nor Gospel writers explain what is meant by the phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”.  It is one of those things that all the listeners of that time would have known what is meant, so there was no need to explain.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us two thousand years later.

So, what is really meant by “the kingdom of heaven”? 

Deacon Donald Cox wrote about the kingdom of heaven in the Catholic Journal:

“Simply stated, the Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom that exists within and among the people of God.  If we look at and combine all of the various statements made in Scripture regarding the Kingdom of Heaven, we find the following:

It is a Kingdom that is approached only through understanding. 

You have to enter into this understanding only by acceptance, like that of a little child. 

Entrance into this Kingdom is a spiritual rebirth. 

This kingdom is populated by souls who devote themselves to doing the will of God. 

This Kingdom, therefore, is not defined by geographic territory, but rather by dominion. 

Think of the Kingdom of Heaven as God’s intentions for the universe.  Citizens of this kingdom are, therefore, called to live the way that Christ lived and think the way that Christ thought.” 

The kingdom of heaven takes us back to the very beginning of Genesis before we sinned and lost favor with God.  Everything was working in accord with God’s intention for the universe.  Then we succumbed to the temptation to be like God. 

Think about the last sentence that Deacon Cox wrote.  We are called to live the way that Christ lived and think the way that Christ thought.

When I look at my own life to see how I compare to the standard that Christ lived, I fail miserably. 

But there is hope! 

St Thomas Aquinas wrote: “No man is able of himself to grasp the supreme good of eternal life; he needs divine help. Hence, there is here a two-fold object, the eternal life we hope for, and the divine help we hope for.” 

God understood that we are unable to enter the kingdom of heaven and achieve eternal life on our own.  That’s why he sent his Son; to live as we live, to be tempted as we are tempted, to suffer pain and agony as we suffer; so that through his passion, death, and resurrection we have the hope of entering the kingdom of heaven. 

The kingdom of heaven is the central theme of Jesus’ life and ministry.  Are we going to be a part of it?  Are we willing to repent, and change the way we live our lives?  Are we willing to repent of our past sins and open our hearts for a spiritual rebirth to think and live like Christ? 

If we are willing to do that, the world will be a radically different place. 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel; and give us strength and courage to think as you thought and live as you lived. 

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time, September 12^th, we had this same Gospel reading but from the Gospel of Luke. 

Today, let’s take a different approach.  We will use the concept of “Turning the Diamond”.  When the sunlight hits a diamond, it glistens and spreads an array of light and color around the room.  In theological terms, it means to take a scripture passage and look at it in a different way than we normally would approach it.  We turn the Diamond of the Scripture to see a different facet of light and find a new concept. 

When Jesus said that he would come and heal the servant, the Centurion replied with the words that all Catholics know: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” 

The Gospel tells us a lot about the Centurion.  What can we learn? 

First, he was a person who cared for others and treated them with respect.  Even the Jewish leaders encouraged Jesus to help him.  Luke tells us that “When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.  They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”  Even though the Centurion was a Roman Officer, he respected the Jewish people and built a house of worship for them. 

Second, he understood authority.  As an officer in charge of 100 soldiers, he was used to giving commands and having those orders carried out immediately.  He had slaves who responded to his desires and commands. 

He obviously had heard about Jesus and knew that Jesus had authority over sickness, evil spirits and even death.  The Centurion knew that Jesus could heal his servant. 

Third, the Centurion knew that Jesus was who he said he was, the Son of God.  He knew that Jesus had a power that even he, with all his power and authority, felt unworthy. 

Let’s note how this Centurion, who was a Roman Officer, lived his life.  We all know the suffering, pain and agony of Jesus’ Passion and Crucifixion.  This was the brutal Roman way.  Yet, despite the training and upbringing, this Centurion was different.  Are we different from those in this world too?  

Do we care for others and treat them with respect?  Even those we don’t like, those we disagree with, or those who mistreat us? 

Do we understand authority?  Do we perform the tasks assigned to us at work willingly?  Do we comprehend God’s authority over the universe and even each of us? 

Do we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  Do we truly feel that we are as unworthy as the Centurion when we receive his body into ours in the Holy Eucharist?  Do we have the faith of a Roman Centurion? 

Together, let us pray those words: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” 

So far in Advent we have been preparing for the coming of the Messiah.  Advent is more than half over so it’s time to pause and rejoice that Christ’s coming is near.  The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday.  We use a rose-colored candle and vestments for Gaudete Sunday to show that it is different from the other Sundays in Advent.  The name comes from the first word of today’s antiphon.  In Latin that word is gaudete which translates as Rejoice! 

Today’s antiphon reads “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near.” 

Last week, Father Jim told us how Advent is at the darkest time of the year.  We are waiting, looking forward to Christmas with Hope.  Hope that things will be better. Hope that light will shine through the darkness.  Hope that spring will come with longer days of warmth and sunshine. 

For us, the winter nights are cold outside, but we are blessed to be warm inside our houses.  It was quite different in the past.  The long winter nights meant hours of cold unbearable shivering.  It truly was a time of darkness and looking forward to warmer nights and more sunshine during the days.  A time to encourage each other that the worst would soon be over and warmer times were coming. 

Our lives are much like this.  We live through the winters of pain and suffering; the times when cancer hits us or a family member, the times when we lose our job just before Christmas and we don’t know what to do to provide food and shelter let alone gifts for the children, the times when our marriage is breaking apart and we don’t know where to go for help, and the trouble just seems to on and on.  How can we rejoice and look forward to better time ahead? 

It’s interesting that the Gospel starts with John the Baptist, who is in prison, questioning who Jesus really is.  This it the same John who said “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.  I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”  John then baptized Jesus. 

The next day (after he had baptized Jesus) John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.  I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’  Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

John stated emphatically that Jesus is the Son of God; and yet here he is in prison wondering if he really is the Son of God.  How could this happen?  John the Baptist questioning what he said so emphatically three years ago?  Times were a lot different now.  John is in prison and doesn’t know what will happen to him.  He is discouraged and begins to doubt. 

Does this story sound familiar?  It is easier for us to begin to question God’s existence when everything is going wrong in our lives.  We think that we are all alone in our despair and desolation, when we doubt that God cares for us or maybe that he even exists. 

John sent several of his disciples to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 

While Jesus did not say that he was the Messiah, he told John’s disciples to report back what was happening.  “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”  In other words, tell John that there is hope; the sick and poor, the widow and orphan, the immigrant and stranger, the marginalized of society are being helped by Jesus. 

When the disciples of John were leaving, Jesus to the crowds and said “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

Jesus knew that John sent his disciples to ask because of his doubts.  Here Jesus is telling us that if the greatest person born into the world could doubt, then we should rejoice because there is hope for us too. 

This is a time of celebrating and parties.  But for those who are suffering the loss of a loved one, for those struggling with cancer or other illnesses, for those who are lonely or depressed it is a difficult time instead of a time of celebrating.  They may begin to doubt like John.  We must help those around us in their time of sadness and despair. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near.”  There is hope!  We are not alone.  The Lord is near! 

The crowds asked John the Baptist “What Should We Do?”  “Teacher, What Should We Do?” 

When you hear the name John the Baptist what comes to mind?  “A voice crying out in the wilderness.”  Mark tells us “John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” 

Just before the start of today’s Gospel, Luke tells us that John the Baptist was preaching to the crowds that came out to be baptized.  He told them“Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance …”  John was telling the people that their baptism changed their lives; that they should live a life of holiness from that point.  This helps us to understand why the people asked the first question at the beginning of today’s Gospel “What should we do?” 

A person would think that the people who asked these questions of John the Baptist would know what to do!  They were Jewish for the most part, so they had the Commandments and instruction from the Rabbis to guide them.  But they still asked, “What should we do?” 

John told them to take care of their neighbor.  He basically reiterated the Ten Commandments and “The Jewish Approach to Repairing the World (Tikkun Olam)” through Acts of Kindness.  In other words, to treat everyone with respect and to love your neighbor.  John said “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.  And whoever has food should do likewise.” 

Catholics, more than any other religion, believe in the respect for the human dignity of every individual person from conception to natural death. When we respect and care for another person, we will look out for them and try to make their life better.  We will provide clothing, food and help them find housing.  We live out our faith exactly as John was telling the people whom he baptized. 

Many people came out into the desert to be baptized by John the Baptist. Some of them were tax collectors and soldiers. 

John Pilch helps us to understand the culture of that time.  Tax collectors did not collect taxes as we know taxes today. They collected tariffs on goods that were imported and tolls for travel over a bridge or on a highway. 

Tax collectors collected the tax (or tolls) for the Roman Emperor which only reminded them of the occupation by the Gentile oppressor.  The Roman Empire typically used locals to collect the taxes so many of the tax collectors were Jews.  Using locals for tax collectors would direct the people’s resentment of paying the taxes away from the Roman rulers and solders stationed in the region and toward the tax collector.  Middle Eastern culture accepts bribes and deceit as a part of business dealings. Tax collectors were not paid very much. It was common practice for the tax collector to charge more than the tax levied by the Roman government, so the tax collector could live a better life. 

After the tax collectors were baptized, they asked John “Teacher, what should we do?”  He told them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”  John did not try to reform the Roman tax rules of the method of collecting the taxes.  That would have brought the Roman government down on him immediately.  Instead, John tells them to do what is right; be satisfied with the commission that they received for collecting the taxes and not to gouge the people for more. 

There weren’t any Roman Legions stationed in the region at that time. John Pilch explains that Palestinian Judeans were exempt from serving in the Roman Armies.  So, these soldiers are probably Judeans who enlisted in the service of Herod.  The people resented the soldiers because,like the tax collectors, they were Jews who worked for the occupying power and enforced Rome’s rules.  After the soldiers were baptized, they asked John the Baptist: “And what is it that we should do?”  He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” 

It is interesting that John did not tell the tax collector or the soldier to change their occupation.  He did not tell them to change the unjust tax system or not to serve in Herod’s army.  John told them to change the way they lived their lives, to live Acts of Kindness toward every person they met.  Rabbi Judah stated “… engaging in acts of kindness is nothing less than modeling yourself after God.”  That was John’s message to the people who came out to be baptized. 

Acts tell us that Paul established the first Christian community in Europe at Philippi.  In the second reading, Paul wrote to the Philippians to encourage them.  He said“I shall say it again: rejoice!  Your kindness should be known to all.” 

During this holiday season, many people show acts of kindness by helping those who are in need.  We donate to charities, we donate our time and we try to be a little cheerier to everyone we meet. 

Advent is a time of preparation for us to celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ arrival on Christmas Day and to prepare our hearts for his second coming.  It’s very difficult to find time to spend quietly with God any time but especially at this time of year. 

We are rushing at a hectic pace trying to prepare for the social celebration of Christmas.  Besides all the preparation of buying gifts for everyone and planning the get togethers, there are meals to plan and prepare; and we need to figure out how to have family over without slighting anyone because some of them won’t come if a certain family member or person is there. 

In the caustic environment of our culture today, it seems that hate rules over kindness.  It is so prevalent that it seems to consume us to the point that we are unable to get anything done.  The noise overtakes our hearts and leaves us no time to quiet ourselves and wait for God to speak to us. 

With all this emphasis on preparation for the social Christmas, does it ever seem like we don’t know what to do to prepare ourselves?  It’s so easy to get caught up in all the rush and drama that we can forget the real reason for Advent and Christmas.  “What should we do?” 

The crowds were filled with expectation that John the Baptist might be the Messiah.  But John pointed the crowds to Christ.  We too must point others to Christ.  We do that by the way we live our lives –through Acts of Kindness so others will ask “What makes you so kind, even when people are mean to you?”  Then we can explain that we are Catholic and point them to Christ. 

Blessed Mother Theresa said “Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God’s loving kindness: Kindness in your face, Kindness in your eyes, Kindness in your smile.” 

What should we do?  Will we continue to live the same as the world around us?  Will we look the other way when we pass a homeless person?  Or will we look at them, smile and shake their hand, showing them respect as a person in God’s image who is having a difficult time? 

Will we despise the person who lives in the margins of society like the people despised the tax collectors and soldiers?  Or will we reach out to the widow, the orphan, the stranger and the immigrant? 

Will we let the squabbling of family and friends tear us apart inside? Or will we make some time in the busy rush of the season to spend quietly with God to renew our hearts?  Will we engage in acts of kindness to others, so we model ourselves after God? 

What should we do? 

The past three weeks were spent in prayer and reflection. Each week, one more candle in the Advent Wreath was lit. Last week the pink candle was lit expressing joy that the wait is almost over and we will soon celebrate the coming of Christ our Savior. Today, the last purple candle was lit. During this last week of Advent, let us continue to follow Pope Francis’ call to increase sacrificial prayer for the conversion of souls.
When Mary questioned the angel how she could bear a child, the angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the child would be called the Son of God. The angel also told her that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age and would bear a son – “for nothing will be impossible for God”.
Keep in mind that this took place two thousand years ago when there were no phones let alone smart phones with texting. Communication was strictly by word of mouth since few people were educated. Only the church leaders (the Sadducees, the Pharisees and Priests) and the leaders in civil government were able to write and read. In addition, only a few people knew that Elizabeth was pregnant because she went into seclusion for five months when she conceived.
Today’s Gospel starts with action. Luke states: “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste” to see Elizabeth. This was unheard of in that time. Women in the Mediterranean world were always in a group: a group of women, a group of women and children or they were with a male relative such as a father or brother or uncle who kept tabs on them. A woman’s reputation would be ruined from being alone, let alone to travel alone. Travel in those days was very dangerous. Robbers waited along the road to attack and rob anyone who came along. If Mary joined a caravan like most travelers in that day did for safety on the roads, Luke probably would have mentioned it.
Mary goes alone on a four day journey to the town of Judah to see Elizabeth. Mary travels on the rough roads of sand and rocks under the hot sun to Judah. She is not worried about herself, she only wants to visit Elizabeth to rejoice with her and help her during her pregnancy.
Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant with the Son of God. When she heard Mary’s voice she was filled with the Holy Spirit and said “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
What was different about these two women who were talking together and rejoicing in the promise and hope that was given to them from God? One was a woman in her later years and the spouse of a priest; the other was a young teenage peasant girl who was pregnant without a husband. The difference that set them apart was when Elizabeth said to Mary “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Mary’s belief brought hope to the world.
It is appropriate that we take a few moments to ponder the miraculous event of Mary’s “yes” to God. Under the oppressive rule of the Romans and in extremely difficult economic situations, two women found joy in the promise that God gave them. Because they both believed in God’s promise, they had hope for the future. That future would bring God’s mercy to the world.
Mary understood the profound impact her yes would have on the future when she said “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
John Paul the second wrote: “Mary, then, is the one who has the deepest knowledge of the mystery of God’s mercy. She knows its price, she knows how great it is. In this sense, we call her the Mother of mercy: our Lady of mercy, or Mother of divine mercy; in each one of these titles there is a deep theological meaning, for they express the special preparation of her soul, of her whole personality, so that she was able to perceive, through the complex events, first of Israel, then of every individual and of the whole of humanity, that mercy of which “from generation to generation” people become sharers according to the eternal design of the most Holy Trinity.”
We are unable to comprehend the whole of God’s mercy like Mary, but we can still share God’s love and mercy. As individuals of the whole of humanity, we become sharers in God’s mercy. As sharers, we bring hope to others by our kindness, concern and love to others. Father Ron Rolheiser wrote: “Hope is believing in the promise of God and believing that God has the power to fulfill that promise.”
The Gospel reading this week speaks to us about belief and action. As we approach the celebration of the coming of our Savior, it is time for action: action to believe in the promise of God and that God has the power to fulfill that promise, action to spend time in continued sacrificial prayer for the conversion of souls and action to find God’s mercy and forgive those who have hurt us.
Like Mary, we must believe and act on the gift God gave us. Will we pray that God will increase our belief in Jesus so that we can say like Mary “Lord your will be done in my life”? Are we willing to accept God’s will, even if it leads in paths that don’t fit our plans? Will we teach our children about God’s mercy and peace so his mercy will last from generation to generation? In this Jubilee of Mercy, are we willing to share the mercy God gives to us with those who have hurt us? Will we overcome our hurt and bitterness to seek those who have wronged us to say “I forgive you”?

There are many Christmas traditions that we enjoy between Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is shopping to get gifts for family and friends. There are parties with friends and coworkers. There is mistletoe to hang and good times. The children are eagerly anticipating Santa Claus’ arrival and the presents that he will bring for them. For Catholics, Orthodox churches and many other Christian people, Advent is more important.
Advent is the beginning of the Liturgical year in the Church. Advent is time of waiting and preparation and looking forward with hope for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit. In the history of the church, Advent was a time of fasting similar to Lent. Some began on the eleventh of November, others the fifteenth, and others as early as the autumnal equinox. Some Catholics and many Orthodox churches still fast during Advent.
Dr Mark Roberts provides a good explanation: “The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we’re reminded of how much we ourselves also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.”
The Advent Wreath helps us prepare for Christmas. Today the Advent Wreath was blessed and the first candle was lit. Each week of Advent, another candle is lit in the wreath. The colors help to remind us of the purpose of Advent. Three of the candles are purple and one is pink. Purple stands for royalty and has a somber serious feel to it. The first two weeks of Advent are purple; a time of repentance in preparation for the coming of our King. The third week is pink which is a happy color and reminds us that the joy of Christmas will soon be here. The fourth week is back to purple for the final preparation of our hearts as we long for the coming of Jesus.
During Advent, we prepare for Jesus’ coming; the celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem two thousand years ago and the second coming of Jesus at the end of time. Jesus said the no one knows the time except for the Father. The chances of our being alive for the second coming of Christ are unknown. What is known is that we will die and that will end our earthly journey. Our soul does not die but continues on. Our life is not ended, it is just changed and we must be prepared for that moment.
Advent is a reminder that we have hope beyond the eventual moment of death. This longing and expectation that we will see Jesus removes the fear that so many people feel even today.
We are fortunate that we do not live in fear of execution just because we are Christians like many parts of the world. But death can come at any moment: a car accident, a heart attack or an act of violence by a stranger or loved one. The Psalmist asked the Lord to make his ways known to us and to show us sinners the way. All the paths of the Lord are kindness to those who keep his covenant and decrees. The friendship of the Lord is near to those who follow his ways. What a wonderful promise God gave us.
Jeremiah and Paul both wrote during a time of great fear. But both had hope and looked to God’s promise for the future. Jeremiah wrote: “In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure”. Paul wrote: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all” so it will strengthen your hearts and make you blameless in holiness before God.
Today, fear is everywhere just like in the times of Jeremiah and Paul as well as the future events that Jesus talked about in today’s Gospel. The recent bombings and killing sprees by terrorists in France, Palestine, Israel and throughout Africa struck fear into people around the world. The droughts and resulting wild fires this summer on the West Coast while other parts of the country had floods has people worried about what’s next. The tornadoes in the Mid-west and hurricanes on the east coast and Mexico and the winter wind storms and rain here in the Northwest make us realize how vulnerable we really are to the forces of nature regardless of where we live.
Many people purchase food and supplies in case of a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. But these are futile attempts to calm our fears; when the disaster strikes we will still be afraid. The only way to overcome the fear that grips the world is to be ready for the coming of our Savior.
How do we prepare for the coming of our Savior?
In a letter to the Knights of Columbus’ one hundred and thirty third Supreme Convention, Pope Francis wrote: “It is urgent that, from Catholics throughout the world, an unceasing sacrifice of prayer be offered for the conversion of hearts, an end to fanatical violence and intolerance, and a general recognition of those fundamental human rights which are not granted the state, but from the hand of the creator.”
Advent is a time of preparation and repentance. One way to prepare is to offer an unceasing sacrifice of prayer for the conversion of hearts, especially our own. As we walk this journey of Advent, we pray for God’s forgiveness and help to be the witness that God wants us to be to the world. We prepare our hearts for the final coming of Christ our Savior through prayer.
Advent is a time of preparation and joy. How will we spend this Advent?
Will we spend our lives in a state of fear for what might happen in the future? Will we purchase food and supplies like those preparing for a terrorist attack or natural disaster? Or will we spend some time reaching out in love to those who hate us? Will we spend the time buying gifts and getting ready for secular X-mas without Christ in our plans? Or will we volunteer to help serve a hot meal or prepare a warm place for the homeless to sleep at night? Will we enjoy all the parties leading up to Christmas, having a good time with coworkers or family and friends? Or will we offer a sacrifice of prayer for the conversion of hearts as we prepare for the coming of Christ our Savior?