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Pastor's Letter 20201206 - 6 December 2020 All People Shall See the Salvation By Our God


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December 5th, 2020

Second Sunday of Advent

 

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Today’s Theme: 

“All Mankind Shall See the Salvation by Our God”

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John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness.

 

A Message from Father Michael

 

Scripture Note

Our First Reading, today, is a message of hope and consolation, addressed to the exiles in Babylon (Isaiah 40:1-11.)  Considering their state of oppression, there was little basis for hope at that time.  Nonetheless, Isaiah assures his people that God is about to come to their aid, and will lead them back to their own land in a “new exodus.”  (Even though the actual return from exile fell far short of the glowing picture he paints in this reading, his words point the way to the Messianic Era.) 

Meanwhile, in our Second Reading, Peter speaks to his audience about Jesus’ Second Coming (2 Peter 3:8-14.)  He reasons that the Lord’s “delay” will enable everybody an opportunity to repent.

Then, in our Gospel passage, John the Baptist appears in the desert as a “new Elijah,” and announces the coming of the Redeemer—Jesus, the Christ, and Son of God. (These two Christological titles are used by Mark as he begins his Gospel.) There is a call to repentance that pervades all of today’s readings (Mark 1:1-8.)   

The Straight Path

“Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God” (From today’s First Reading.) 

A straight road shortens any journey for the traveler.  In modern times, bulldozers have straightened winding roads, leveled mountains, and filled valleys.  But, of course, Isaiah isn’t talking about this type of “straightening.”  The highway to which he refers is our way of life.  And, it’s not the Lord Who needs the straight path, but ourselves.  Going further, it’s not so much that we need a straight path as much as a straight attitude. 

In this context, “straight” refers to honesty and right living.  We understand what is meant when we hear people admonished to “straighten out their lives.”  (It’s a common directive parents frequently give their children….)  To “go straight” means to reform one’s behavior, after having been dishonest or a criminal.  “Crooked,” on the other hand, stands for dishonesty, cheating, deceit, etc.  There can be a crooked way of dealing with others; a crooked attitude; or a crooked way of living. 

We find the “right path” by acting with integrity, treating people fairly, refraining from any form of oppression, not making life more difficult for anyone and sharing with those in need.  This is the way we have learned to seek God.  Prayerful meditation, assisted by the Holy Spirit can aid us in our quest to seek Him.  The prophet Micah put it this way: “This is what God asks of you: That you act justly; love tenderly; and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8.)

How easy things become in life for a person who walks the straight path—the path of the Lord.  But to walk a straight path one needs strength, wisdom and single-mindedness.  This is the realm of the Holy Spirit, upon Whom we call to buoy our resolve. 

Conversely, how crooked is the path of someone who is devious.  How dark is the path of one who lies and cheats. It may be downhill, but the vision is diminishing.  The right path, on the other hand, is an ascending one.  The “ever-expanding view” experienced by the righteous compensates for the difficulty of the climb.  If there is some crooked attitude, some crooked way of behaving or some crooked relationship that needs straightening, we must try to do it.  Then we will be truly preparing a way for the Lord to come to us, and to others, through us. 

Fortunately, everything doesn’t depend solely on our individual efforts.  The Lord can come in spite of us, just as does the dawn.  However, let us ask the Lord to take the blindness from our eyes; the weakness from our wills; and the hardness from our hearts.  In this way, the world may be flooded by the grace of His coming.

God is Faithful

In Biblical times, the Israelites lived on God’s promise—first of a new land; then of a Savior.  This is not to say they didn’t sometimes forget it in “good times,” and doubt it in “bad times.”  (It’s a common fault of everyone, even today, to dismiss future possibilities while we enjoy/live in prosperity or suffer through a recession….) We know the Israelites endured a substantial number of bad times…the worst being their slavery in Egypt, followed by years wandering in the desert.  What sustained them through it all was their Scriptures, which fostered a belief that God would not abandon them, or forget His promises. 

One noteworthy thing that Advent does for us is remind us how God faithfully loves his people, and how His promises were fulfilled in the person of Our Blessed Lord, Jesus.  Our Liturgical Advent Scripture Readings are replete with reminders of God’s fidelity.  Consider these verses:  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8.)  “The mountains may depart, the hills may be shaken, but My love for you will never leave you; and My covenant of peace with you will never be shaken” (Isaiah 54:10.) 

These messages of reassurance are addressed to us. We too are living by God’s promise.  A Christian is someone who is journeying in faith towards the promised land of eternal glory.  What sustains us is the belief that God is faithful to His Word and true to His promises. 

But like the Israelites of old, we also can forget these promises.  Many voices calling us in other directions.  Most obvious are those that come from outside us.  There are strident, hate-filled "voices" of demagogues and pundits calling us to racism, discrimination and bigotry.  Many voices accost us daily in social media, (i.e. Facebook, Twitter and the like.)

In the lovely words of the Benedictus, (which we recite during each sacrifice of the Mass, after the Holy, Holy, Holy,) God comes to free us from our sins, to rid us of fear, and deliver us from the power of evil: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest!”  He comes to guide our feet into the way of peace.   

Reflection

 

The voice of John the Baptist was a lonely one,

Which many of his contemporaries ignored. 

There are many lonely voices in our world, today.

Somewhere, at this moment, a child is crying—

Crying for love or, maybe, simply for bread.

Somewhere a young person is crying—

Crying for a listening ear or an understanding heart.

Somewhere an old person is crying—

Crying for a visit from their children.

There are thousands of unheard cries in our world,

Coming from the victims of injustice and neglect.

Lord, help us to listen to these voices,

And, above all, help us to listen to Your voice,

Whispering to us in the wilderness of our hearts,

Telling us that we are loved by You,

And that we are to love one another.

~~Anonymous~~

May God Richly Bless You!

To view a live stream of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/S-2d2jSZc0A

Make Straight in the Desert a Highway.docx

Make Straight in the Desert a Highway.mp3

Edited by Father Michael
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