In his recent post-synodal Apostolic Extortion Verbum Domini, the Holy Father advises and encourages preachers not to give abstract and generic sermons that give more questions than answers. It is an easy trap to fall into; one I find myself tottering into myself. How do we make our sermons concrete? By rooting them in the scriptures, in the context of the lives of the people. In Ireland, for example, there is huge confusion about the future. Politics is in turmoil. Economies seem to be imploding. Society is sick and tired of disappointment. And still, Sunday after Sunday, preachers ascend the mighty steps of the Word of God. May the Holy Spirit always give us the strength, faith, conviction and integrity to make God's mighty deeds know - in so doing grow in discipleship and encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith.
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Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
One of the choirs in the parish sing a very appropriate Advent hymn with a very catchy refrain "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King". Its one of those tunes that gets into the brain, like a mantra, and helps me remember what Advent is all about. In this part of Advent we remember that as Jesus came among us as a man in humility, one day, maybe soon, he will return to judge the living and the dead - and 'all eyes will behold his glory'. There should be nothing abstract about that. The mystery of faith "Christ will come again!"
A brief thought on the 1st reading: Such beautiful thoughts from the Prophet. The child putting its hand in the hole of the snake. The cow and the bear being neighbours. The lion eating straw like the ox. We cannot imagine Heaven, but we can almost imagine these things. Take the Lion, for example, eating straw. A remarkable image, of peace. Not only does the Lion not eat the Ox, he shares in the Ox's meal of straw. Peace, gentleness, kindness are all Heavenly. And the thing is they are all around us if we have the faith to see and the courage to live them.
On the Gospel: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make His paths straight. In order for us to let Christ our light enter into our hearts: what bends do we have to take out of the roads? In my part of the country the local council spends a lot of time and effort taking corners of roads to make them safe and to help the free flow of traffic. Some bends can be so big that large vehicles cannot get through. Imagine if the Lord's train could not get round the bends of our hearts; would he have to turn back? He is knocking. Do we let him in?
Very inspiring!
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