Wednesday of the Third Week in Advent
(Isaiah 45:6c-8.18.21c-25; Luke 7:18b-23)
One of the great challenges to faith has come from a
contemporary American physicist. Stephen
Weinberg, musing on the universe, exclaimed, “The more the
universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless." The
statement implies that creation does not have a purpose or plan. Rather, it unfolds haphazardly like the sequence
of numbers called in a game of Bingo.
Today’s first reading poses a very different view. Second Isaiah sees the Lord in charge of
everything. He created earth and sky for
justice. That is, he wants everything to
fulfill the good purpose for which He made it.
The gospel shows Jesus enabling the fulfillment of this plan. He makes humans whole. He does not neglect the poorest of people but
brings about God’s loving plan in all.
Many hesitate today to make a claim of priority for
Jesus. They do not want to say, “Merry
Christmas,” even to other Christians or people whose families are
Christian. We want not avoid triumphalism,
the belittling of other people of other faith traditions. Jesus himself blessed the meek. But in proclaiming “Christmas” we recognize
the origin of our celebrating at this time of year. As important, we hint at necessary
moderation in our celebrations. After all,
Jesus came to bring justice to our lives.
