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.
In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. (Sir 48:1-4, 9-11)
I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands. (Mt 17:9a, 10-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121424.cfm
The gospel of Matthew reminds us that Elijah has indeed returned in the figure of John the Baptist. And Jesus points out that the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands. Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) worked together with Saint Teresa of Ávila to renew and reform the church. His writings are classics of Spanish literature.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 1)
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121324.cfm
Saint Lucy (283-304), whose name means light, is one of the important saints of Advent. Before the calendar reform (1582), her feast day was the Winter Solstice and was celebrated as a festival of light with carols, candles, and candies. From the manner of her martyrdom, Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and is invoked by those with vision problems.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121223.cfm
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a sign of hope to us who await the coming of our God. The Brown Virgin of Tepeyac signals a new evangelization, not European, but indigenous, resulting in the baptism of over 11 million indigenous people who began the journey with Christ. As we approach the 500th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin which occurred in December, 1531, we sing the great hymn of praise: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed!”
Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. (Is 40:25-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121124.cfm
The long journey of Advent would not be possible at all if it were not for the grace of the Lord. With God’s grace we soar with eagles’ wings!
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. 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 40:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121024.cfm
Some folks get obsessed with the end of the world images from the Scriptures, especially those from the Little Apocalypse in the synoptic gospels, or the Book of Daniel, or even from the Book of Revelation itself. But much older is this image from the Prophet Isaiah of the God who comes, not with violence and destruction, but rather with comfort, gentle as a shepherd carrying the lambs in his bosom and leading the ewes with care. It is this image that dominates the season of Advent and that Händel used so effectively to begin his oratorio, Messiah.
