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.
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. (Is 35:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120621.cfm
Advent has a message for those who are frightened: Don’t be afraid, because God comes to save. Today is the feast of Saint Nicholas, who was a bishop of the early church and certainly not the “right jolly old elf,” of Clement Clarke Moore’s A Visit from Saint Nicholas (’Twas the Night before Christmas), https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas. Saint Nicholas attended the First Ecumenical Council, the Council of Nicea in the year AD 325, and of course, is the patron saint of children.
The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.” (Lk 3:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120521.cfm
John the Baptist challenges us all to “Prepare the way of the Lord” not in fear, rather with rejoicing.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 147)
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
and gathers the dispersed of Israel.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
The Lord heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
The Lord tells the number of the stars;
and calls each by name. R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120421.cfm
Patience is the key virtue of Advent, to wait for the Lord. The image of Mary, Great with Child, captures the imagination of the church during this Holy Season.
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.
For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone. (Is 29:17-24)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120321.cfm
The deaf hear, the blind see, the poor have good news proclaimed to them . . . sounds like Advent! Saint Francis Xavier was one of the companions of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He traveled all the way to Asia to bring the good news.
Alleluia (Is 55:6)
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120221.cfm
God’s nearness . . . a beautiful expression of Advent longing from the prophet Isaiah. For all seekers of God, Advent is THE time to open the ears of our hearts to listen to the prophets. Some folks use an Advent Calendar to celebrate the season . . . and yes, there's an app for that! IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/advent-app/id756869205 ANDROID: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jacquielawson.advent.london2021&hl=es_CO&gl=US
