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.
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Is 29:17-24)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120222.cfm
The longing of the prophets for the coming of “that day” fills the readings of Advent: that the deaf shall hear, the blind see, and the poor and the lowly will rejoice in the Lord. What do we long for? What would fill us with joy? In his encyclical letter on the liturgy (Desiderio desideravi), Pope Francis speaks of the Lord’s desire to eat with us. Could our participation in the Eucharist be joyfully satisfying the Lord’s desire?
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 118)
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120122.cfm
The Lord’s mercy endures forever, human kindness not so much. There are those who would like to exclude from the Christian community those they consider “not worthy.” But judgment is not entrusted to us, rather the One whose coming we await weighs minds and hearts and “humbles those in high places.” Today we remember all those living with HIV & AIDS, and especially we remember those we have lost.
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. (Mt 4:18-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/113022.cfm
Andrew, along with Peter, James and John, left everything to follow Jesus. The call of the first disciples becomes the model for all of us. May Advent help us to hear the Lord’s call and to respond with the same faith that Andrew and the others had.
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Lk 10:21-24)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112922.cfm
Today’s readings are filled with longing and deep desire for the peaceable kingdom where there will be no harm or ruin rather “justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.” Advent faces that longing and quietly proclaims that the Lord’s coming satisfies the deepest hungers of the human family.
Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night. For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and protection. (Is 4:2-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112822.cfm
A cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night—recalls the Divine Presence during the Exodus from Egypt. “On that day” is a reference to the “great and terrible Day of the Lord.” But instead of provoking “fear and trembling” the coming of the LORD’s glory, God’s presence with us, will be “shelter and protection.” The message of Advent is a message of hope. Advent proclaims not “fear and trembling” but rather “shelter and protection.”
