These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
(Is 35:1-10)
The Homecoming we await: another image of Advent—the returning, the coming home—symbolized by a highway, a highway for our God and for us! The photo today is of the Duomo (Cathedral) of Milan, where Saint Ambrose preached. Through the preaching of Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine was converted to the faith.
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
(Is 40:1-5,9-11)
One of the most beautiful prophecies of Isaiah—used very effectively in Handel’s Messiah. Today is also the feast of Saint Nicholas! The picture today is of the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas the Great, in Rio Negro, Antioquia, Colombia.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
(Is 30:20-21)
Better than the GPS in your car . . . we will be guided in the Way of the Lord. The picture today is a painting by Sybil, an elderly lady whom I visited. She gave me the painting just a few days before she died.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One of the important themes of Advent is LIGHT. Today’s readings focus on the Lord opening the eyes of the blind. A good reminder that we need the Lord to open our eyes that we may not walk in darkness, but be able to see the world and everyone in it in the light of the Lord.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.
. . . .
[But] the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
(Is 26:1-6)
Isaiah’s message is strong . . . we have a choice: to be a nation that is just and keeps faith or to be brought down and trampled underfoot by the needy and the poor. We may need to make some changes! Saint Francis Xavier is probably one of the greatest missionaries since Saint Paul. His mission field included India, Japan, and many parts of Southeast Asia. The photo today is of cars of jobless workers people lined up and waiting to get food at the San Antonio, Texas, food bank during the coronavirus crisis.
