PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

Ten years and one day ago on December 8, 2015, Pope Francis declared “A Holy Year of Mercy” calling all of us to be about the CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY: To feed the hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Clothe the Naked, Shelter the Homeless, Care for the Sick, Visit the Imprisoned, and Bury the Dead. And he called us to be about the Spiritual Works of Mercy: To Instruct the Innocent, Advise the Doubtful, Comfort the Sorrowful, Bear Wrongs Patiently, Forgive Injuries, and Pray for the Living and the Dead. Pope Francis asked that this holy year be for all of us “A time to heal, to help, to forgive”.

And here we are a decade later ~ still at it. Hopefully! 

Today’s Scriptures speak likewise! They call us to be about the work of Mercy, actively trying to help others - especially those with need often they might be friends or family, people from our own community or neighborhood, or parish. And sometimes those needs are heard in the pleas of the “other” - the stranger - persons we don’t even know. All three scripture readings today call to US - all of us - young and old - to be About these physical needs of others crying out to heaven in their pleas for mercy! ISAIAH’s voice reminds us the ‘promised one to come’ will lead - and teach - that way so well that even the Gentiles will hear his voice and respond. PAUL’s voice urges us to allow the Scriptures to direct our forward march, to be people of hope and unity, and have the same mind and heart and work as Jesus, so that even the ‘Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy’. In Matthew’s Gospel, brings the voice of John the Baptist, whose fashion and diet stand out a bit - but whose actions lead the way to “the way, the truth, and the life”, of God With Us! Always!

Then - as now – God calls us to respond. And today, even more than ever, we are called to be of one mind, and one heart as we live and move and have our being, right here, right now, on planet earth. We live in a time that the globe itself can be explored in an instant. The roads are long but the speed is instant. Think about it - in a heartbeat, we can hear the cry of the poor in Haiti, and view the near fleshless arms of the children in Gaza begging, reaching out for food, or see the raging fires of California - the destruction of safe places to sleep - housing units all over earth - from their wildfires, or the raging sea, or missiles launched by human hands. Today’s gospel calls us to repent. To prepare the Way of the Lord.

When I hear that phrase “prepare the Way of the Lord”, I am reminded of 🎶 Godspell 🎶 - that powerful musical that calls us to pay attention to the life story of our Lord Jesus Christ, in a wonder-filled way, with music and dancing - and the simple eye-opening realization that God is with us even now, even today -  even right here in our Valley Cursillo, and our parishes throughout the diocese, teaching, calling, beseeching us – ALL of us - to be about the works of mercy, the works of love for each other, our families and friends – and also “the other” - the stranger - the one who has no one else but us!

During this season of advent, we step back to reflect and review, in order to move forward.

In love, and with love for all, no matter who, or where, or when. God calls us to love others, to care for them - all others no exception. It doesn’t mean we have to like what they do or how they behave. It does mean as Pope Leo proclaims, that we have to recognize their human dignity – that they are God’s children, even if they do not hold that belief themselves. Our job is to love and care for - not judge. To build bridges of understanding, not walls of separation. To seek forgiveness – and to offer forgiveness to others. Preparing the way of the Lord. Just last week Pope Leo was preparing to travel to Turkey to meet with other faith traditions in the work of unity, three weeks ago on the feast of Christ the King, he shared his first apostolic letter: IN UNITATE FIDEI. He begins, “In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy.” Expressed in the words of the creed, “I believe in the one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God… For our salvation came down from heaven,”. formulated 1700 years ago by the council of Nicaea first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity.” As we share the blessing of this Advent season, as our pope journeys to Turkey to further unity with the orthodox and the other Christian communities of faith, may we hold him in prayer as he continues to lead us toward the treasure of oneness in Christ Jesus. In his closing prayer, he asks us to invoke the Holy Spirit to accompany and guide us in this work:

“Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history. We thank you for inspiring the symbols of Faith, and for sharing in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing. Eternal Spirit of God, rejuvenate the faith of the church from age to age. Help us to deepen it and return always to the essentials in order to proclaim it. So that our witness in the world may not be futile, Come Holy Spirit, with your fire and grace to revive our faith, to enkindle us with hope, to inflame us with charity, Come divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion. Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow so that with your wisdom we become once again what we are in Christ: One, so that the world may believe. Amen.”

Pope Leo’s words continue to inspire us with hope his apostolic letter is only eight pages long. You can find it on the Vatican website. It is well worth the read. Especially during this season of advent as we “Prepare the Way of the Lord”. May God’s love in this holy season be for all, blessing all around. 

With Love in Christ Jesus.

De Colores,

Patty Huffman