Reflections
Reflection for the Vigil of the Second Sunday of Advent
In the Gospel, which Mary Liz just proclaimed, we hear Luke, the evangelist/historian, elaborately setting the stage for the entrance of John, the Baptizer, situating him in a very specific time and place in history:
“In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome, etc., the Word of God came to John, in the desert, throughout the whole region of the Jordan, John was proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah.”
The remaining verses of this Gospel are the words of Isaiah 40, which identify John “as the voice of one crying out in the desert,” calling us to perform many laborious tasks–both spiritually and physically–repent, be baptized, straighten crooked paths, level mountains–and, THEN you will see the salvation of God.
The prophet Baruch, another messenger speaking to us in tomorrow’s first reading, uses language similar to John’s about lowering mountains and filling in gorges BUT Baruch starts off with a much more joyous message:
“Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever. God is leading Israel to joy!”
A joy matched by the first reading we heard proclaimed earlier in Isaiah 52 and to which I will return later.
But, first, I’d like to spend a few minutes reflecting on the significance of this Advent prophet’s theme expressed in the Mass readings for the first week in Advent: the theme that God invites all people of every nation – including ours – to climb God’s holy mountain to experience feasting, curing of ills, mercy, everlasting joy and light, and universal peace.
Throughout this first week, Isaiah invites us to this holy mountain to witness this peace, where one nation does not raise a sword against another, and where wolf shall be the guest of the lamb, and the baby will play by the cobra’s den.
In the middle of the week, we hear: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts provides for all peoples: a feast of juicy, rich food and pure, choice wine. God wipes away tears from every face.”
Matthew’s Gospel mirrors Isaiah’s verses: Jesus’ followers climb up the mountain carrying their disabled whom Jesus cures; then provides all with a generous meal.
On Thursday, God is an eternal Rock – God IS the mountain in whom we trust forever. Yesterday and today continue the theme of healing in both Isaiah and in the gospel: “On that day…” the eyes of the blind will see and the deaf hear. Upon every high mountain, the Holy One of Israel, will show mercy and bind up wounds.
This evening, Isaiah 52, tops off the week of journeying, pilgrimaging, being on God’s holy mountain. Tonight, the messengers are coming down from that mountain – from every crevice, bringing Good News, borne on blessed feet:
I’d like to read a slightly different translation of Isaiah 52, which I think just bubbles over with joy and exuberance:
“What a beautiful sight it is to see messengers coming down from the mountains bringing the good news of peace, salvation, God’s reign! Jerusalem, burst into songs of joy together, for the Lord has comforted this people; has set Jerusalem free…All nations – from one end of the earth to the other – will see the victory of our God!”
Our God – the God of Abraham & Sarah & Hagar; of Isaac & Rebecca; of Jacob & Rachel & Leah; of Joseph & Mary & Jesus – speaks to us right now and tells us to claim the “victory of our God:” “Behold I am with you all days” … -reminding us that Jesus came into our history as Emmanuel – God is with us now. This week we sang “Christ comes, the promised peace of God; Christ comes, the promised kept by God.”
This victory of our God, bringing good news and universal peace is sometimes difficult to imagine when the daily news heralds the reality of war, senseless shootings, migrants being deported, people being trafficked, inhumane treatment of all kinds.
At times like these, when my hope wavers, I need to remember who God is & what I really believe, based on God’s awesome deeds on behalf of our ancestors of old, who could look forward with confidence, because they could look backward to Yahweh’s awesome deeds in the past.
- In struggling to keep that same faith in God, I really do believe that even in human desperation, God is always present and working to bring restoration.
- I really do believe that God is like a loving parent, scooping us up into wide-open arms, and abiding with us in steadfast love – even amid suffering and dashed hopes.
- I really do believe that the God of history still meets us in our specific time and place: right here, right now on this holy mountain of St. Scholastica, in Atchison, Kansas, this Saturday evening, on December7, 2024.
Let us praise God together and burst into a joyful Advent Halleluia!
