Daily Thoughts: “The beginning
of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the
prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight.’” Words of hope offered to those gathered as
Church over two thousand years ago and those gathered as Church today. They are
Isaiah’s words, John the Baptist’s words, Mark the Evangelist’s words and our
words of hope.
Hope can often seem like an endless wait
or a fleeting moment, just ask any Cub fan, Pirate fan or small market baseball
fan who religiously tries to capture the spirit of hope every spring only to
give in to the utterance, “wait until next year” in the fall. Hope often seems
to be that elusive thing with feathers to borrow a phrase from Emily Dickinson.
She wrote a poem about hope –
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops - at all
(The first stanza from the poem “Hope”
is the thing with feathers - By Emily Dickinson)
Isaiah and John the Baptist know all
about the elusiveness of that “thing with feathers” called hope however that
did not stop them from proclaiming it and challenging people to embrace it.
Isaiah reminded the Israelites about
God’s compassion and forgiveness. He proclaimed the hopefulness of a loving God
who in the end will make all things right. Isaiah sang the song of hope and
never stopped – at all.
John the Baptist challenged those who
followed him into the desert to look for hope in their lives by trusting in the
compassion and forgiveness of God. John’s challenge was one of urgency, of
being ready, of realizing the God was in their midst.
As we continue our journey through
Advent we have the simple hope that Christmas will come but we are also
challenged like many before us to hang on to the elusive hope of Isaiah, John
the Baptist in a world that often tries to take it from us. Today Isaiah and
John remind us to look for and hold on to that thing with feathers within us
the sings a tune and never stops at all!
Have a great day everyone and may you
sing the tune of hope throughout the day!
Sunday Prayer: O God of all searchers
let no earthly undertaking hinder us as we journey in haste to meet you. May we
learn the wisdom of heaven and always have the hope of your love! Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: May your run
today take you into the heart of God and may it be a run of hope!
Daily Blessing: Happy Second
Sunday of Advent everyone! I find myself at home once again after a long drive
through the rain yesterday from Fairfax, VA. The last two weeks on the road was
a very blessed and hope filled time with family and ministry. I am grateful to
my niece and nephew-in-law for sharing their home and family with me and I am
very grateful to St. Paul’s Parish in Tampa for inviting me to celebrate
mission with them during this holy season. It is nice to be home but I was
greatly blessed during my time a way!
In a few moments I will head to the
Parish of St. John and St. Mary in Chappaqua, NY to celebrate the 10 am mass
and so my prayer of blessing today will be a short one. Blessings on your
journeys, your family time, your projects, your TV watching, and your
encounters with others today and may you all find hope and have peace in your
living of life today and always! We remember the events of 1941 today. We
remember all who lost their lives in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. May events
like that one never happen anywhere again.
Have a Great Second Sunday of Advent and
don’t forget to give God a little time today. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr.
Paul
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