Category: Uncategorized

***

Happy New Year!

***

This first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. So, today we have a fresh start, a new beginning.

***

2020 has been a year unlike any other. If someone told us back in February that the Coronavirus would still be wreaking havoc on our world, we’d say they were crazy. 

But here we are.

Think of how many Americans are shuffling into churches this morning burdened in ways they never would’ve imagined. 

Many have lost loved ones to COVID. Tons of students are still learning online. Some of us haven’t seen our loved ones since March, while others have lost their homes or jobs because of a wildfire or hurricane.

2020 has been rough, leaving many whose faith has been parched asking, “Where is God?”

***

Considering the suffering that’s taken place this year, that’s a hard question to answer. Perhaps no answer will suffice. 

***

But all of our readings today wrestle with this question. 

In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah cries out, “Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways? Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down.”

Isaiah feels the absence of God, who seems hidden in the heavens.

The Psalmist adds, “Rouse your power, Lord; come to save us. Look from heaven and see; give us new life, and we will call upon your name.”

***

The prophets of the Old Testament cried out to God; they felt his absence, like so many of us have this year. Although they didn’t doubt God’s power to save, they struggled to see the Lord present in their darkest days.

This is what Advent is all about, recognizing our need for God; our need for him to be present in our lives. To stay. To protect us. To deliver us from evil.

***

At Christmas, we celebrate the truth that the Lord has come to save us. And he will come again at the end of time, as both our Judge and Savior.

But for now, we wait. We’re stuck in the, “in between.”

***

Waiting is perhaps the most difficult part of the spiritual journey.

It’s the story of ancient Israel. It’s the story of believers throughout the centuries. It’s been the story of our world in 2020. 

We wait for God. We wait for a vaccine to be administered. We wait for a return to normal. 

We wait.

***

But if we look with eyes of faith, then we can see that the Lord is acting in our lives.

For example, God is present in the scientists who’ve been rushing to find a vaccine. He’s in the medical workers who’ve spent months fighting tirelessly on the frontlines.

He’s in the teachers and parents who’ve had to dig deep these last nine months, finding reserves of patience and creativity they never knew they had.

He’s in the voice of a friend who calls just to say hello. He’s in the neighbor who drops off a home cooked meal to a friend in quarantine.

***

So, where is God?

***

God is in us. 

We are his hands and feet in the world until he returns. 

Think of how often the Lord places desires in our heart to be bold; honest; generous; kind; and creative. 

God gives us the desire, but then we must act.

***

This is Jesus’ point in today’s Gospel.

A master goes on a journey and leaves his servants in charge of his household. Each servant is assigned to a particular task. When the master returns, he judges them based upon their performance.

Meaning, the Lord gives us tasks to do in this world. 

In my case, he’s appointed me shepherd of this flock. When he returns, Jesus will judge me based upon how attentive I’ve been to my responsibilities. 

But what about you? What do you believe God has asked you to do in life?

***

Often the answer changes over time. 

Perhaps the Lord’s invited you to live as a faithful spouse; a loving parent; a servant in the world. Or maybe he’s invited you to volunteer – to offer your time, treasure, and talent to others in this parish.

Whatever God has given us to do, may we do it all.

***

The good news is this: 2020 is coming to an end.

But people will still be asking, “Where is God?” in 2021.

Together, we can show them his face.

***

***

Someone said recently, “The one thing God receives more than anything else is complaints.”

***

This could certainly be true for 2020.

Imagine how many people have cried out, “God, I’m tired of COVID, face masks and social distance! Bring an end to it!”

Or, “Please, Lord, let me go back to school. I can’t stand my siblings any longer!”

Or, “My clothes don’t fit. I fell victim to the quarantine-15!” 

Or, I’m sure many of us have complained to God about not seeing our loved ones this Thanksgiving.

***

God’s received his fair share of complaints this year.

But what might the Lord say to us in return?

***

I’d imagine him saying something like, “2020 has been a difficult year, to be sure. But have an attitude of gratitude. Behind most of those complaints, there’s a reason to be grateful.”

For example, “My clothes don’t fit, BUT I’m well fed.”

Or, “I’m tired of learning online, BUT I’m receiving an education.”

Or in the case of the leper in today’s Gospel, “I’ve spent my entire life being shunned by society…BUT I was just healed by Jesus.”

***

So much of life is perspective. We can spend our time complaining about what goes wrong, or we can look for a reason to be grateful.

For example, I’m grateful for the gift of faith. I’m grateful for this parish. I’m grateful I woke up today – and, please God, I’ll be grateful for waking up tomorrow.

So, what about you? What are you grateful for?

***

Make a mental list. Then give thanks to God.

***

***

Gospel:

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ 
Do not follow them! 
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.” 
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”  

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

It seems everyone wants to know when the world will end, even the disciples in today’s Gospel. But Jesus only offers them an elusive answer, saying there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, and plagues.

But even that will not be the end. The easiest answer, then, is, “Nobody knows.” 

***

Perhaps it’s wisest to focus on two things that we do know are coming to an end.

The first is quite obvious – we’re approaching the end of the year. The leaves have fallen, the days are getting darker, colder, and the time for harvesting is over. 

Winter is at hand.

As we prepare to mark the end of this calendar year, we should take a few moments to reflect upon 2020. It was a year like none other. And while it’s easy to complain – to see all the things that went wrong – what can we say went right?

Did we draw closer to the Lord? Did we become more grateful for the people and blessings in our lives?

***

While we know neither the day nor the hour, we also know that our lives are coming to an end.

Think of the person who just received a terminal diagnosis…the officer who didn’t return home from work…or those who lost their lives in wildfires or hurricanes this year.

For them, the world – not just the year – came unexpectedly to an end.

It’s a sobering truth, but Jesus reminds us today to remember that all things are passing, even the world and we who call it home. 

So, how ready are we to see the Lord?

***

Advent is the time for us to reflect on these deeper, more uncomfortable, questions.

Whether or not the end is near, we who believe shall rejoice to see the Lord come.

***