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.
Salmon [was] the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. (Mt 1:1-17)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121722.cfm
We come to the second and final part of Advent, the time of the O’s (the O Antiphons): “O Wisdom of God come teach us the path of knowledge!” One of my favorite gospel readings is the genealogy of the Lord in Matthew’s gospel. The Rahab mentioned is not the Rahab, the “Harlot of Jericho” from the Book of Joshua, but just the name alone brings to mind that other Rahab of the sordid reputation. (It’s like the name Jezebel in the South: the name is used but NEVER for little girls). Ruth, a foreigner, is one the great, great grandmothers of the Lord, and then poor Bathsheba couldn’t even be mentioned. She’s just “the wife of Uriah,” whom David had murdered after the king had slept with his wife. A somewhat interesting family history for the Lord . . . in many ways a lot like our own!
Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the LORD, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, Loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants– Them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Is 56:1-3a, 6-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121622.cfm
A house of prayer for all peoples . . . what a vision for Advent . . . what a vision for the church, where everyone can come and be joyful. For the Lord does not exclude anyone from God’s people. Maybe good Pope Saint John XXIII had this passage in mind when he said, "I never met a person I couldn't pray with."
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the Lord, your redeemer. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you. (Is 54:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121522.cfm
My love shall never leave you . . . that is the enduring love of our God. In a world where division and violence seem to hold sway, Advent proclaims God’s undying love for us in Christ whose coming we await with joyful hope.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. (Is 456c,-8, 18, 21c-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121422.cfm
The Responsorial Psalm invites us to pray: Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. The work of justice is God’s work. We are called to share in bringing creation to its fulfillment. Advent prepares us to welcome the coming of the Just One as we celebrate his birth among us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard: that in Christ kindness and truth have met, justice and peace have kissed. Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) taught the church that emotions can bring us to God through prayer and contemplation. He referred to God as “Amado mío” (My Beloved).
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.” (Mt 21:28-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121322.cfm
If the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God . . . then there’s hope for the rest of us! Saint Lucy’s feast became very popular in the northern countries before the calendar reform in 1582. Her feast, December 13, had become the winter solstice due to calendar drift. That’s why the feast for this young virgin martyr of the early church was filled with lighted candles . . . even today!
