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2018 is over. That chapter of our lives is closed. 

We’ve now entered into 2019. Six pages have already been written – and turned.

But as a famous philosopher once wrote, “We live our lives looking forward, but we understand our lives looking backwards.”

What, then, can the pages of 2018 teach us?

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Wherever there is darkness, light can appear.

For example, how many of us remember the story in July of the twelve boys from Thailand who found themselves stuck inside a cave for nearly two weeks, horrifyingly planted in darkness?

And most of us certainly remember Hurricane Florence in September that flooded the Carolinas, leveling homes and uprooting entire trees in its path.

Then there was the season of wildfires in California that burned an entire town to the ground, a town ironically called Paradise.

These were all terribly dark moments for ordinary people, like us. 

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But wherever there is darkness, light can appear.

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Remember, while those boys in Thailand were wasting away, countless people from around the world worked tirelessly to bring them home.

And after Hurricane Florence, hundreds of first responders rushed to save those caught in the rising floodwaters.

And as the wildfires spread throughout California, thousands of firefighters risked their own lives to save others.

In each case, ordinary men and women stood up and said, “The darkness will not overcome us. I can – I will – be part of the solution. I will be light.”

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Wherever there is darkness, light can appear.

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The same lesson comes to us through the story of the magi. It’s a dark moment in scripture:  King Herod is trying to kill this newborn King he’s heard about, the child Jesus. 

But there is someone else at work in the night. 

God is guiding the magi by the light of a star, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah we heard in our first reading, “See, darkness covers the earth…but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.” 

Even though the magi are walking through the darkness, they know that God is with them. And so they move ever forward into the night, following the light of the star.

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After they encounter Jesus, the magi themselves become light for others, sharing this Good News of our Lord’s birth with the world.

They see that God has come to save all people – people of every race, and tongue, and nation. 

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Isn’t that our mission, too, to encounter Jesus in the night?

And after we find him, to share our journey of faith with others?

This is the Gospel for the world to hear. God has come to save us; God is at work in the night — and so often that means God is working through us.

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We may not find ourselves fighting wildfires or diving into caves in 2019, but if 2018 has taught us anything, it’s that there is the potential for light within each and every one of us.

As Saint Francis wrote, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is despair, let me bring hope; where there is darkness, let me bring light.”

How we will follow in the footsteps of those who’ve gone before us remains to be seen.

All we must say for now is this: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

How many of us have run over a pothole?

I’m sure we do all the time — after all, it’s New Jersey.

Now I’m not trying to hate on the “Garden State,” but its other name should be the “Pothole State,” because potholes are everywhere, especially right here on Pompton Avenue.

Think about how frustrated we can get when we run over a really deep one. The impact is so strong that you can feel it in your wrists while gripping the steering wheel!

It’s quite an unpleasant experience — for us and for the car.

At some point, our roads become so damaged they’re nearly impossible to drive on. Only then does the Department of Transportation finally come and fill those potholes in.

But when they do, it’s like a brand new road – or you might say, a new beginning.

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In all fairness, bad roads are not only a Jersey phenomenon – they existed all over the ancient world, too. And like us, kings hated them.

The only difference is they had the power to repair them!

In fact, before a king would visit a town, he’d send his messengers before him to notify the villagers of his coming.

It became their responsibility to level any pothole or remove any obstacle in his way. A smooth path was a sign of welcome to the king.

This is what the prophet Isaiah is talking about when he said:

“Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain” (Isaiah 40:3-4).

Isaiah knows that one day the Lord will visit his people in the flesh, so Israel must be ready to welcome him.

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John the Baptist repeats this ancient prophecy in today’s Gospel, saying, “Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight his path!”

John knows the time has come; the Lord is on his way.

But he also knows that what God wants is not a ready road, but a ready heart.

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God wants a ready heart.

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For this reason, John travels in haste throughout the region, telling everyone in Israel to repent. They all had obstacles or potholes in their lives that needed to be repaired.

For some it was a lack of faith. For others it was a lack of concern for their neighbor, a hardened heart, or even the false worship of another god.

Though their struggles may have been different, everyone needed to repent and prepare the way of the Lord.

Interpreting John’s warning, the question becomes for us, “Where are the potholes in our own lives?” 

Are we weak in faith? Have we failed to show concern for our neighbor? Are we in need of forgiveness, either from God or someone else?

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Advent is the time for us to seek a new beginning. 

In order to do that, we must first examine our own lives and see where we may have failed to love – either ourselves, our neighbor, or our God.

And then ask for that forgiveness, particularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Lord’s mercy is always available, but it can only be received with a penitential heart.

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We all run over potholes from time to time. You may even hit a few on your way home, especially if you’re driving on Pompton Avenue.

But like our roads, we are all imperfect — we’re in need of some repair.

Let’s be patient with each other, then, especially as we gather around the table this Christmas, knowing we are all in need of a Savior.

Come, Lord Jesus!

 

What do the following companies have in common: Dunkin’ Donuts, Google, and Apple?

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They all have mission statements.

For example, the mission of Dunkin’ Donuts is, “to make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores.”

The mission of Google is, “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

The mission of Apple is, “to design the best personal computers in the world.”

I’d say they’re all pretty effective, no?

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In the Gospel, Jesus reveals his mission statement. “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”

And the truth Jesus is speaking about is his identity as the Son of God, “the way, the truth, and the life.” He is not one among many; he alone can lead us to heaven.

But in the face of many other religions, philosophies, and worldly distractions, we all must decide for ourselves whether or not we believe him.

Is Christ our King?

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This is a question everyone must answer, even Pilate.

As we hear in the Gospel, the religious authorities finally arrest Jesus and bring him to Pilate, demanding that he execute him.

Though this is the first time that Jesus and Pilate have met, Pilate has heard of him before.

He knows that Jesus has developed a following, particularly through his preaching, his love for the poor, his interaction with sinners, and his performance of miracles.

Pilate knows Jesus is not only unique – perhaps divine; he is also innocent.

Wanting nothing to do with killing an innocent man, Pilate says to the crowds, “You take this man and judge him according to your own laws.”

But they are relentless; they will not leave until Pilate makes his decision. Is he for Jesus or against him?

We know how the story develops from here. Pilate buckles under pressure and hands Jesus over to be crucified.

Imagine that – sentencing the Son of God to death.

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But strangely enough, Jesus turns these horrible circumstances into an opportunity to reveal the depths of his love.

As he draws his final breath, he gazes upon the men who’ve nailed him to a tree and prays, “Father, forgive them.”

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“Forgive them.”

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Jesus died to save us all, even the men who nailed him to a tree. “For this is the will of my heavenly Father,” he says, “that all men might not perish, but might have eternal life.”

God only asks two things of us in return – to love him with all of our heart, and our neighbor as our self.

A significant part of fulfilling that second commandment – loving our neighbor as our self – involves sharing the Good News of the Gospel with them in both word and deed.

Imagine yourself as the visible face of Christ.

The way you and I speak and live our lives influences the way others see Christianity. The more joyful, honest, humble, and compassionate we are, the more people want to know why.

And we know what some may not – Jesus is the source of everything that is good. He is the one who produces the joy in our hearts, the pep in our step, our hope for the future.

So how do we share our faith in Jesus with others?

Invite friends to Mass, forgive people when they hurt us, pray for those in desperate need, and above all, serve Jesus in the poor.

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Just as companies like Google, Apple, and Dunkin’ Donuts have mission statements, so does Jesus – “to testify to the truth.” And the truth is that he is the Son of God, “the way, the truth, and the life.”

He is not one among many; he alone can lead us to heaven.

As his disciples, we’re drawn into his mission of testifying to the truth by sharing our faith with others.

How might we do that this week?