Second Sunday of Advent
This last Tuesday, Barry and I happened to be here in church with another musician. The back of the church was very dimly lit. I saw the inside door of the church open ever so slightly and then close and then open again. And then I saw figure walk very hesitatingly into the church and slowly slip into the very last pew. Just to make sure that everything was fine, I decided to walk up to the person. Meanwhile, I saw this person walk toward me. When I could actually see more clearly I saw a young woman and she was clearly distraught. I introduced myself and asked what I could do for her. She said that her grandmother has just passed away and before she could finish the sentence she was sobbing heavily. As I hugged her, she simply broke down and cried uncontrollably. Barry will tell you that she was loud. For a moment I felt her body just go limp in my arms. After she recovered, I took her aside and spoke with her. Her name was Andrea. She told me she had gotten away from her faith and that when she heard her grandmother passed away she was hoping that some church would be open for her to come and pray. I prayed with her for her grandma, invited her to light a candle, gave her the prayer to the Holy Spirit and left her alone to pray. I am not sure how long stayed but here is the kicker. Normally, this church is never open on a Tuesday at 6:30 pm and I am never in the church at that time. I was in utter amazement as I headed back to the rectory. Now hear these words from today’s first reading: “Comfort, give comfort to my people,” says your God. “ I know that God was reaching out to Andrea and comforting her in her despair. I am not sure what this moment meant for Andrea and if I will ever see her again to know that. For me this was a God moment. I kept saying to myself under my breath, “God is real, Satish, God is real."
Last Sunday we reflected on how the Israelites were in hopelessness and despair. The Israelites did three things as a result. They stepped back, examined their life and prayed for renewal. Today’s reading is a continuation of the story. Finally, God comes through for the people. God offers comfort to the people by proclaiming an end to the exile and return back to Jerusalem. That is why Isaiah says, “Prepare a highway for our God.” I think that God was offering three things to the people of Israel. First, God was offering them comfort, God was offering them a challenge, and God was offering them a responsibility. I would like to reflect on these three dimensions as practical points for us for advent.
1. First, God offers comfort. God declares the end of the exile in these words: “Comfort, give comfort to my people. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at and end…indeed she has received double for all her sins” (Is 40: 1-2). For the people in exile the comfort came from the awareness that, after all, God had not forgotten them. Once again, the people experience God in their midst. I am sure this is Andrea’s experience. God constantly offers us God’s presence. The only reason anyone should feel far removed from God is because prayer, reflection upon scripture, the sacraments and service are not part of his or her life. Is this advent a time for prayer for you? Does prayer mean the same thing to you as your breath?
2. Second, God presents a challenge. As the people prepare to get back to Jerusalem, Isaiah says to the people, “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Is 40:3). This is the same cry we hear from John the Baptist in today’s gospel reading (Mk 1:3). The desert is a very special place in the history of the people of Israel. It is a place of denial; it is a place of discipline; it is a place where people develop complete dependence on God; it is a place of preparation. If we take out the commercial aspect of Christmas, advent really is like a desert. It is a time for discipline, for self-denial, for preparation, and for prayer. Let us make a highway for God in our life. May these days of advent be an intense preparation for the God who comes to save us.
3. Third, God presents a responsibility. After their second exodus, after they have disciplined themselves, and learned dependence, the Lord entrusts them a great responsibility. Israel is not simply called to proclaim the good news but she IS the “herald of good tidings.” Israel is the good news. They themselves become the presence of God. What does this mean for us? Andrea, the young woman who stepped into church last Tuesday, is representative of all those who are hurting these day. Our country is in turmoil racially and economically. And then there are those who feel rejected by society, by the church, and perhaps by their own families. This Christmas can we reach a stage where because of the birth of the Lord in our hearts we can say to the those like Andrea, “Here is your God?” We ourselves are given the responsibility to become the manger that carried the Savior. Become the bearer of forgiveness, of compassion to someone who needs help, pray with someone who is lonely, assist someone who needs your help. Become the manger that carried the Savior.
Let me conclude by saying that, the same Jesus whose arrival the Baptist announced will come to us in bread and wine. Even as we prepare for his coming during Christmas, today, right now Christ will come to us to comfort us, to challenge us and to entrust to us his good news. Let us be prepared to be comforted, to be challenged, and to take up our responsibility. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph