Second Sunday of Advent

From the Mystic, Julian of Norwich:

All shall be well,
and all shall be well,
and every manner of thing shall be  well.

I like to tell the story of the "mean old man" who lived up the street from us.  He seemed to be always angry and distressed.  I have often wondered how people become that way.  What has happened in their lives where anger, rage, and animosity seem to be the only response to the world?  Was it abuse, neglect, a dream not realized, that causes them to fly into a tirade?

One of the wonderful readings in Isaiah muses that "On this Holy mountain God will provide for all peoples."  (Is 51)  What we need to realize that Isaiah is speaking to men and women who have just returned home after years of exile.  They come back to a place of devastation.  And yet the Prophet speaks boldly and confidently that the God of our forbearers would see them through this crisis, and ultimately all would be gathered on the mountain of the Lord.  This was not a rainbows and butterflies pep talk given to a sad people, but a profession of faith which acknowledges that God is bigger than any of us.

Once upon a time I went running during a break on a high school retreat.  Several of the youngsters went with me.  At one point in the run one young man began to speak about how much the retreat grounds reminded him of his grandmother's farm.  He went on for several minutes about a woman who obviously had a powerful impact on his life.

Faithful lives inspire us and help us to hold on to what is good and holy.  Perhaps this is way saint and martyrs are so important for us catholics.  The stories of their lives are an assurance that God provides for all people, in particular the poor, anawim, anxious, and afraid.  I think that it is in the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer where it is stated, "When we were lost and could not find our way to you .. you called us back.

As communities of faith the Eucharist and the Word remind us that we can hope for the glory of the Kingdom of God.  People of hope do not wallow in despair or shame but build a holy edifice out of the building blocks of faith.  More so they are true disciples who share in the task of sharing Good News.  Hopeful people can inspire families and nations  - and call for a conversion of heart.

So it is with joyful hope we await the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.