Articles

Signs of hope

Vatican II has restored the meaning of Advent from a season of penance and conversion into its original purpose: a time of hope. We remember the coming of Christ, and we know he has to come more deeply in our Church and in our world. To dispose us to do this we need conversion, of course, but we need especially hope that, notwithstanding everything to the contrary, his kingdom will come. To deepen that hope, we have to learn to see the signs that this hope is already present among us. Let our Lord open our eyes to these signs.

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9

Jerusalem, get rid of the dull clothes of grief and put on your best dress, the clothes of glory meant for you from all eternity.
Wrap yourself in a lovely layered cloak; pick one from the justice collection. On your head put a crown in honor of the Eternal One.
God wants to show off how splendid you can look.
As of now, your name will be on the permanent divine invitation list; look under the headings of Peace and Justice and the Glory of God’s Worship.
Arise, Jerusalem, and take your stand on high; look to the east, and you’ll see your children gathering, rejoicing in the memory of God.
They were abducted a long time ago by their enemies and led away, made to walk the many miles on foot. God, however, will lead them back to you, carried with glory as though on a royal throne.
God has decided to level the mountains, turning the hard rock into gravel; the gorges and valleys he has ordered filled and leveled. He will do this so that the house of Israel may make the return trip to you in the security of the glory of the Most High.
At the command of God, forests and fragrant woods will spring up to provide shade for the returning pilgrims.
God will lead Israel home with joy, lighting the way with the majesty, mercy, and justice only he can command.
 

Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6,8-11

I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
 

Gospel: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:
 
Thunder in the desert!
“Prepare God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,
The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.
Everyone will be there to see
The parade of God’s salvation.”


Prayer

God our Father,
we know today how to pierce mountains
and level hills to build highways,
but we have lost the way
to each other’s heart and to you.
Let your Son come among us
to make us inventive and daring enough
to build roads of justice and love
that make us encounter one another
and you, our living God.
We ask you this in the name of him whom we expect
and who is waiting for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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