From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

Advent is a season of deep spirituality when we learn to wait patiently for the coming of the Messiah. On the 1st Sunday of Advent, the readings warned us to stay awake and be spiritually vigilant; that is a calling for the restoration of hope. The 2nd Sunday warned us against the danger of complacent repentance and uses Baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire imagery to encourage us towards radical repentance; that is a calling for the restoration of peace. Today we are reminded to be both patient with God and with our neighbor in order to be found worthy at His coming; this is a calling for the restoration of joy, especially for those, according to Pope Francis, whose life seem like “Lent without Easter.”

This type of joy, according to Francis, enables wheat to grow in the midst of weeds and the light of the Holy Spirit to radiate in the midst of darkness. Today, we light the pink candle which symbolizes joy, the reason why the Third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word Gaudete which means “rejoice”

The first reading brings out clearly the theme of today’s celebration. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers and rejoice with joyful song.” When there is no joy, life becomes like a desert, or a parched land, or a steppe (barren land). Joy is different from the temporary pleasure we receive as a result of worldly possessions. One can lack worldly possessions but still be filled with joy. One may be encountering deprivations of life and yet be filled with joy. One can be physically sick or be physically challenged but be filled with joy, and even more joyful than those physically whole. One can have all worldly possessions but have no joy.

The words of Isaiah the Prophet says, “Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened:

Be strong, fear not!” The same words were addressed to Peter while walking on the sea in the Gospel of Matthew, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mt 14:27). In today’s first reading, we heard the promise, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared;then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” Other miracles will follow. When we pass the test of faith and hope, then miracles will follow, as it happened to Abraham and Job. This joy is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing Jesus Christ, being close to him, surrendering to him, trusting in him, guided by his words and precepts, and by the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This is the joy of the Lord that is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

We must learn to be very patient with both God and our neighbors. Today’s 2nd reading warns us to be patient with God like a farmer who waits for harvest time and also to be patient with our neighbors and never degenerate into judgmental criticisms except for fraternal correction.

In the gospel we find a revealing question-and-answer exchange between John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist’s question was born out of frustration: “Are you he who is to come or should we look for another?” Have you ever felt like John the Baptist before? Have you ever hoped and boasted in expectation of divine miracles only to be disappointed at the end? Jesus’ reply corrects John the Baptist’s doubts and reminds him and us that the Messiah has come and is working miracles.

We shall observe three things about John the Baptist. First, his greatness. His birth was miraculous. He recognized the Messiah right from his mother’s womb. He was the voice not the word. Second, his mission. He was destined to shed the light on evil things and make the way easier for the Messiah. Third, his limitations. He was not perfect. He was not actually holy but he was very spiritual. Spirituality is slightly different from holiness. One could be very ascetic – dealing with the flesh squarely and having his spirit alive. But holiness has to do with a sublime perfection in virtues that align one in perfect resonance with the love of God and neighbor. John the Baptist did not have the privilege of learning the message of the Cross. This is a powerful quote: “The power of Christianity is hidden in the Cross.” You cannot talk about grace without talking about Christ and you cannot talk about Christ without talking about the Cross. John the Baptist was only a signpost and died before seeing the cross of Jesus.

Like John the Baptist, when we are besieged by challenges of life, we become disappointed, we ask many questions, we look for answers. Jesus tells us in the Gospel not to doubt but have faith. Jesus says, I am the one who make the blind regain their sight. I make the lame walk again. I make the lepers clean. I make the deaf hear. I raise the dead. I bring good tidings to the poor. He adds, “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Another translation says, “Blessed is the one who does not lose faith in me.” The second reading encourages us to be patient, to make our hearts firm, and not to complain. This means that we are not to despair.

What is it that has taken our joy from us? What is our blindness? What is our lameness? What is our leprosy? What is our deafness? What is our death? What is our bad news? What is our imprisonment? What is our disappointment? What is our desert, our parched land, and our steppe? Jesus invites us to bring all our spiritual and physical afflictions to him. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30). When we accept this invitation, and receive the promised rest, his joy will be in us, and our joy becomes complete (John 15:11).

As Christmas draws near, let us begin to arrange to carry home bags of gifts, not bags of trouble and animosity. Let’s make our Christmas journey a missionary journey – a journey of love and reconciliation; a moment of reunion, sharing and expression of charity. We must be patient with God and the people of God because “love is patient and kind. It does not take offense,” as St. Paul remind us. When we face disappointing situations like the death of a loved one, the failure in a business, the delay in God’s answer to our prayers, let us not be quick to ask like John the Baptist did: “Are you he who is to come or should we look for another?”

Joy will make us be One Body, One Spirit, One Family! Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Michael the Archangel, St. José Gregorio Hernández, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Charbel, pray for us.

Yours in Christ Jesus!
Fr. Omar