Fr Kevin Kilgore

When I was a student in college, I’d occasionally have “take home” – or written – exams. 

As soon as the professor shared the questions for the exam, I’d rush to the library to be the first to check out all of the necessary books.

Sometimes it felt like I was carrying ten – even a dozen – books in my arms and book bag as I hurried back to my room.

But the weight of those books didn’t bother me at all; it was minimal compared to the reward they offered. Without them, I simply couldn’t complete my exams.

***

In a similar way, God has given us 10 commandments, or rules, on how to live our lives. 

But Jesus takes these commandments and compresses them into a single word: LOVE.

Love your God…love your neighbor…. even, love yourself.

As Saint John says in our first reading, “In this way, we know that we are children of God, when…we obey his commandments.”

Like a carrying a set of books home to take an exam, the reward for spending our lives loving our God and our neighbor as our self is always greater than the effort it takes.

***

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?

***

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. 

***

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.”

***

Wherever there is darkness, light can appear.

***

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.

***

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. 

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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?

***

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.

***

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!