Can't we all think of things that we face that we just don't believe that we can do? Editing, writing, cooking, cleaning, loving, being, transforming, being transformed, living, reconciling, exercising, helping, being helped... The list is endless, isn't it? What we just can't do is so clear, but what we must do is clear as well. Of course, there is wisdom in knowing what we can't do, but there is hope in believing what we might do.
The majority of us can't turn water into wine, that much is true, but we can do a lot. We are called to participate and cooperate with salvation and that often means challenging our own assumptions about what we can and must do. If we are to ascend the mountain of the Lord, which Isaiah is telling us about in the first reading, we might want to engage our faith and engage with one another to do so. I love how easily I type that and how I manage to avoid doing so. *sigh*
This kind of thing requires "waking up." St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, seems to understand this. Oh, I understand it intellectually, but I would be pretty hard pressed to actually ask you to wake up as I remain in my snoozey state. This is why we must all carry each other along. By the way, this is a tough reading. St. Paul is not just speaking literally about certain kinds of behavior, but speaking to the Romans who were given over to gluttony and lust. With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas shopping before us, gluttony and lust are around hand and hand. It is not just about sex, that is for sure.
The Gospel, our first now that we are in the Year of Matthew, recounts the story of Noah for us. The theme is this - be awake! We do not know when the Lord will come and we must be vigilant. This does not, once more, mean taking this literally. It does mean that we are invited to quiet down, pay attention, change things and be aware of what is really important. This is our challenge. It can't be done alone, that is why we meet and pray in community.
We know not the day nor the hour, but we know what we need to do. Now if only I could turn that sword into a plowshare... Will you help me?
Fran, this is beautiful. There is much that we can do, and there is much that we can do for one another. Let us help each other as we anticipate the coming of the Infant King.
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Let's see how we can turn those swords into plowshare, Fran, and wake up as well, while we are at it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the invitation :-)
"We know not the day nor the hour," but we know he is coming, alleluia! I love Advent, a time of quickening and expectancy. Perhaps, if we experience the quickening in our hearts, we will each go out and play our small part in turning swords into plowshares.
ReplyDeleteOff-topic: Fran, looking forward to your take on the Great Papal Condom Fracas of 2010!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the comments and for joining together in this Advent journey.
ReplyDeleteMy darling @JCF, you shall be waiting a long time for that! I recently had some private correspondence with A Notable Catholic and I urged that Notable Catholic to write about a hot topic (the condoms had been addressed already) but added, "Maybe you won't be writing about that."
In reply I received this short note that said. "You are right, I won't be writing about that!" I echo Notable Catholic today. Sorry to disappoint you my love.
Some things are better left unsaid or addressed long after the storm has passed. That is one of them.
Yep, count me in -hope I'm not too late- I have been asleep ! Typical.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
What we just can't do is so clear, but what we must do is clear as well.
ReplyDeleteOh if only it were that clear to me! :-)
Swords into Ploughshares,would this be Washington,October 2011?
ReplyDeleteYou are partially correct, but not completely.
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