(Isaiah 11, Luke 10)
The fact that secular historians at the time virtually ignored Jesus Christ causes a bit of embarrassment to Christians. After all, we must ask, how could people not take interest in such an extraordinary event as the resurrection?
However, beyond the first centuries of Christianity, the world did take notice. Historians began to measure time in two great epochs: before Christ (B.C.) and in his time (A.D., anno domini, in the year of the Lord). True, many writers today, out of deference to non-Christians, use B.C.E. (before the common era) and C.E. But no thinking person would leave unasked the question of what determines the “common era.”
In the gospel today Jesus openly expresses his relationship with God. He is the son of the One who lives outside His own creation but maintains a supreme role in it. The learned, he adds, cannot see this, perhaps because the tender care of a father sending his son to be crucified for the world is beyond their imagination. Simple people, however, will overlook the breach of human logic and accept gratefully the presence of God’s anointed one in their midst.
As Christians lived at least two centuries without the world taking much notice of Christ, we must give daily testimony to him by our actions. Isaiah predicted the coming of Christ by a remarkable peace among adversaries – wolves and lambs, lions and calves, cobras and babies. Our lives need to be marked by speaking to the troubled and welcoming the stranger. When we do so and encourage others to do likewise, once again the whole world will take notice of Christ’s presence.
Homilette for Monday, December 4
(Isaiah 2, Psalm 122, Matthew 8)
During Advent we are to wait patiently, purposefully, and eagerly for the coming of the Lord. Because many want to busy themselves in commerce and celebration, it is hard to appreciate the import of these adverbs.
We wait patiently by reflecting on the significance of Christ’s coming. He will show himself to be what we have claimed all along – the Son of God, the Creator of the universe and the Lord of history. All nations will recognize him as “Lord” as the centurion does in the gospel passage today.
Of course, we hope to be recognized as his faithful subjects. Thus, we purposefully follow his commands day-by-day. From the very beginning of his preaching Jesus instructed us reconcile with adversaries. As much as possible, we are to turn “swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.” Fulfilling this dictum from the Prophet Isaiah begins by our watching what we say. Too often we use words to attack people directly and to tear apart their reputation.
It seems like waiting eagerly conflicts with waiting patiently. After all, when we are eager about something, we want to see it come about now. But there is a congruency about the two words. After twenty centuries it would only be natural for Christians to give up the wait. We might conclude that Christ erred when he said he would return or that we somehow have mistaken his meaning. However, his “com(ing) again in glory” is an article of faith that we must not dismiss. So we tune up our ears and enlarge our radar screens to discern how exactly Jesus might be among us today, although not in full splendor. This effort creates eagerness in us much like the holy people ready to enter Jerusalem in the responsorial psalm.
During Advent we are to wait patiently, purposefully, and eagerly for the coming of the Lord. Because many want to busy themselves in commerce and celebration, it is hard to appreciate the import of these adverbs.
We wait patiently by reflecting on the significance of Christ’s coming. He will show himself to be what we have claimed all along – the Son of God, the Creator of the universe and the Lord of history. All nations will recognize him as “Lord” as the centurion does in the gospel passage today.
Of course, we hope to be recognized as his faithful subjects. Thus, we purposefully follow his commands day-by-day. From the very beginning of his preaching Jesus instructed us reconcile with adversaries. As much as possible, we are to turn “swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.” Fulfilling this dictum from the Prophet Isaiah begins by our watching what we say. Too often we use words to attack people directly and to tear apart their reputation.
It seems like waiting eagerly conflicts with waiting patiently. After all, when we are eager about something, we want to see it come about now. But there is a congruency about the two words. After twenty centuries it would only be natural for Christians to give up the wait. We might conclude that Christ erred when he said he would return or that we somehow have mistaken his meaning. However, his “com(ing) again in glory” is an article of faith that we must not dismiss. So we tune up our ears and enlarge our radar screens to discern how exactly Jesus might be among us today, although not in full splendor. This effort creates eagerness in us much like the holy people ready to enter Jerusalem in the responsorial psalm.
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