Rejoice! The End is Near!

We've seen the cartoon: an wild-eyed man, bedraggled, carrying a sign that says, "Repent! The end is near!" He probably looks like John the Baptist did to those around him!

This 3^rd Sunday of Advent finds John the Baptist still preparing the way. From his preaching and baptizing many thought he might be the Messiah. But to every question they ask him about his identity, he answers “I am not.” He tells the Pharisees, who demand an answer to give to those who sent then, “I am a voice of one crying out in the desert…but there is someone coming after me.” Often we lack the humility to answer “I am not, but Jesus is.”

 But how would the Messiah answer the question of his identity? “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…” His answer would be his actions. When we are asked about who we think we are as Christians, we should be able to point to the things we have done after listening to the Holy Spirit. And we should rejoice in the Lord that he has done these things in us and for our salvation.

Rejoice! and sing along:

Hail

Hail, highly favored one

Full of grace, Jesus’ face.

The Lord is with you

The Lord is within you

Christ is within you

Jesus is within you

You are blessed above all women

Give your blessing to us all

Give your blessing to women

Give your blessing to children

Give your blessing to the homeless

Give your blessing to the helpless

Give us your grace

Give us Jesus’ face

Give us the Tree of Life

Whose leaves will heal

Whose fruit won’t fail

Holy Mother Mary

Set apart, God’s sanctuary

Remember us in prayer

As we sin, bring us to Jesus within

Bring us now

Bring us always

Bring us now

Bring us always now

As we pass from death to life

And from life to eternal life

Now and at the hour

Now and at the hour

Amen.

God is His Own Genesis

 

Advent Reflection

Second Sunday of Advent Year B

December 6, 2020

 

It has been said that the New Testament is hidden in the Old and that the Old Testament is revealed in the New. Isaiah speaks of a voice crying out in the wilderness. Creation will be transformed in preparation for the coming of Lord. Valleys shall be filled in, perhaps with the rocks and earth from the mountains and hills being made low!

St. Mark tells us that John the Baptist is that voice. John tells the people coming out to him in the desert to be baptized that he is the beginning of the transformation. His voice tells them that another is coming that will baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit!

The Lord, the God of the covenant, is coming in transforming power. Peter proclaims that the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, but there will be a new heavens and a new earth. The image I see is that of the Genesis device in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. In a presentation, we see the device impact a lifeless moon. The energy released encircles the planetoid. Ahead of the wave is barren rock; behind is water and plant life—the transforming power of the Genesis wave.

 Genesis Device Demo

God is his own Genesis! Christ comes to lead us to transforming life. But even in his power, he will be as firm and gentle as a shepherd, gathering, leading, and carrying us next to his heart.