Some Advent Reflections  


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The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him,  and without him not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens evelyone, was coming into the world.   He was in the world,   and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.

But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father?s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

16-18)

Welcome the Stranger

The Jewish people were always told to welcome the stranger. That tradition continues through to the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament. There the author says that in welcoming strangers into their homes “some have unknowingly entertained angels” (13:2). That tradition of the angel, which continues to our day, reminds us that the messenger of God is often hidden in the stranger—the one who is strange to us. Strangers in every age are those brothers and sisters at the edge of society. those who are marginalized—the homeless, the hungry, the oppressed—those who are made leprous. That’ s why Jesus was always going out to the lepers. There is more healing of lepers than of any other group in the life of Jesus. He always reintroduces them to the community.

Those at the edge, ironically, hold the secret for the conversion of every culture and every age. They hold the projected parts of the shadow, the parts of ourselves that we fear, hate, deny and are ashamed of. As the People of God receive and assist the stranger, the homeless and the leper, we discover and embrace not only the hidden and hated parts of our own souls, but also the Lord Jesus himself. That’ s how we best say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

How do we wait?

We have to wait for the coming of Jesus in the manner of poor people, of people in touch with their inner emptiness and hunger. To use the words of the Magnificat, God “fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty” (Luke 1:53). That’ s why Jesus said he came to preach the Gospel to the poor, because poor people—like the shepherds at Bethlehem, like the poor among us today—are in a unique position to hear the Good News, because they know they need it. The limitations of humanity are close at hand for the poor, yet that very awareness creates space for God in their lives. In the same way that only the sick need a physician, it is only those who admit their poverty and recognize their need for God who are open to God ’s rich blessings.

It was Jesus’ Christmas gift to us to show us the way to God. He taught us to pray out of our life experience, our own oppression, our own poverty. “Father”/ ”Daddy” captures Jesus expression of dependence best, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test” (Luke 11:2-4).

Only out of that place of emptiness and powerlessness within our own souls are we in a position to experience the Word of God, to hear without distorting it, to receive it and let it challenge us.

Fourth Sunday of Advent Prayers of the Faithful prepared by  the Confirmation Candidates and Parents, December 2003

Presider:  Father, in our Gospel, you give us the example of Elizabeth and Mary as they responded to your plan to bring about your Kingdom. Our Confirmation candidates and parents speak for our whole community as they call on you today;

Our response is: Lord hear our prayer

1. We pray for those who experience poverty in its many forms; may our whole community be inspired by your response to our needs by being generous in responding to the needs of others. We pray to the Lord

2. We pray for Chelsea Thurber and all those who care for her; may they find emotional strength in difficult times, and courage as they wait for your healing touch. We pray to the Lord.

3. We pray for all who are ill in our community; may we care for each other and may we learn to accept your will for us even as we call on you to heal us. We pray to the Lord.

4. We pray for those who are alone; may they find a real experience of family within this community at this time of year and at all times. We pray to the Lord.

5. We pray for our young people; may they come to know how wonderfully you have made them and how important they are to all of us. We pray to the Lord

6. We pray for our own families; may this be a time to put aside differences and tensions and to rediscover the love and joy you brought to the world in your Son Jesus, We pray to the Lord

7. We pray for all of us, that the values we truly celebrate are the spiritual values of your Kingdom made present to us in Jesus. We pray to the Lord

Presider:

Father, hear our prayers, and listen to the prayers we speak only in our hearts. We have seen your great love, and we stand in confidence that you will hear us today. For these things we pray through Jesus Christ your Son, and your Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. AMEN