Looking ahead...

 As I look forward this Advent, I am reminded that we are not only looking ahead to the celebration of the Lord's Nativity, but also to His glorious return -- His second coming.  

I was speaking with a few people over the last 24 hours who have been in some turmoil in their lives recently.  It's happened with my family too.  What comes to mind whenever I hear about the various ways people are suffering in our world today, God is STILL in charge.  He hasn't given up on humanity.  And as I am counseling some people and reminding myself at the same time, humanity has given God ALL KINDS of reasons to give up on us, yet, the Father has not sent Jesus to bring it all home.  He has not stopped loving us and filling humanity with grace.  We as the human race remain stubborn in recognizing such grace.  There are more than a few people in our recent history whom the Church recognized as being crowned to be saints; however, every one of those individuals would likely tell you that even they doubted along the way, and even sinned along the way.  In that respect, I think of Job.

The enemy tempts us constantly to lose faith and hope and the capacity to love.  Meanwhile, Jesus is always encouraging us to be instruments of faith, hope, and to not only be filled with love, but to share it along the way.

As we listened to the first part of the Infancy Narrative in St. Luke's gospel this morning (December 19), we hear about Zechariah learning that he will be the father of John the Baptist despite both his advanced age as well as that of his wife Elizabeth too.  It's a beautiful story not of horror or disgrace, but one of just how powerfully God lets us know what He wants of us, and that we need to trust what we are offered.  Something that is always talked about is despite being righteous in the eyes of God, the Archangel Gabriel seems awestruck that Zechariah would not believe his message -- after all, Gabriel was sent by God.  Was Zechariah's punishment just?  It seems a little extreme to me; yet, that is how the whole prophecy of a man armed with the Holy Spirit and the power of Elijah was to come about.  It certainly says something about humanity, though -- listen closely to what God is moving you to do and trust it.

Tomorrow, December 20th, has the absolute best reflection from the Liturgy of the Hours, written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux.  I'll tell you about it tomorrow!

Peace and joy!