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.
The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.
(Gen 3:20)
And coming to her, the angel said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
(Lk 1:28)
The ancient Fathers and Mothers of the church made a great deal out of these two verses from the scriptures. In Latin the play on words is interesting: Eve=Eva, Hail=Ave. What is most important is God’s plan of salvation. As Saint Paul says: when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman (Gal 4:4). As we prepare to celebrate his coming among us, we contemplate how God’s mysterious plan is fulfilled in the Virgin Mary. The link is to the Ave Maria sung in the African language Igbo by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Choir in Nigeria.
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.
