If Luke were writing today he would start off something like this: in the second year of the reign of Donald Trump, when J.B. Pritzker was the incoming governor of Illinois, and Rahm Emanuel the outgoing mayor of Chicago, Francis, the Pope in Rome, and Blase Cardinal Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, the word of God came to St. James Church in the city. Every valley of doubt shall be filled and every mountain of problems shall be leveled. The windings of our hearts shall be made straight and the rough ways of resentment and hostility made smooth. In our space, in our time, just as much as in John the Baptist’s, all the world shall see the salvation of God. God has a task for us to make concrete in our circumstance the loving forgiveness of God. The Baptist names that task to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” The idea of preparing for Christmas is part of the American scene. You have to make a list and check it twice. You deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la. You roast chestnuts by an open fire. There are cards to send, gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, visits to make, parties to attend, carols to sing, a tree to decorate and, of course, shopping. The problem, of course, arises in that most of that has nothing to do with preparing the way of the Lord. It’s more like preparing the way to the mall. The scriptures for this Sunday tell us that there are some things we need to do in order to prepare, not for Santa’s Christmas, but the way of the Lord.
If the progress the city is making on Wabash Avenue is any indication, preparing the way of the Lord, making the rough ways smooth and the winding roads straight is a big job. They’ve been out there since July One and they are still not done. So we should not be surprised that we still have lots of work to do in order to see the salvation of God. The national divide, scandals in the Church, family crises all contribute to a sense of how big the job really is. No doubt St. Paul had similar doubts and concerns. However, he continued to do the work of the gospel because he understood that it was really God at work who made it all come together. He wrote to the Philippians: “I am confident of this, that the one who began the good work in you will carry it through to completion.” Paul is sure that God has already initiated the transforming process that the Advent season stands for. You only have to look around to see the good work God has begun in our midst. From an experience of suffering and loss and diversity God has gathered this community together to celebrate our Catholic faith together. If we are faithful and hand on the gift we have received to the children, if we let the neighbors know how valued they are, if we encourage the families to share the blessings of Jesus, if we listen to the wisdom of the elders, they we are preparing the ground for God’s entry into our lives.
I am confident of this: that we can take off our robe of mourning and misery as the Old Testament lesson advises. No matter what is going on in our lives we are promised the glory of God as our right as Christians. Yes, our families do cause us all sorts of worries. Yes, drugs, violence, homelessness plague our neighborhoods. Yes, sometimes we feel helpless in the face of overwhelming problems. Yes, news in the Catholic Church can discourage us. But Advent faith teaches us, all evidence to the contrary, that we advance secure in the glory of God. The God who brought us this far by faith will not abandoned us now.
I am confident of this: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy as the Psalmist says. One of the great things the Lord has done is given men and women who model for us life in God. Our faith wasn’t taught as if from a book. Our faith wasn’t bought as if it were a present. Our faith was caught from the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters who had it before us. What a great thing to have known such spirit-filled, such soul-full people. I am sure that the reason we can see far is because we stand on the shoulders of giants.
I am confident of this: your love may increase ever more and more as the Apostle wrote. Today we have an opportunity to make a return for all the good the Lord has given us. We can forgive an old hurt. We can reach out to someone in need. We can talk about God to someone who is confused. For aren’t forgiveness and love and hope the valuable things which really matter? I am sure that the good work God began in you has a purpose that will bear rich fruit. But don’t forget that we’re not there yet – we’re not complete. So preparing the way of the Lord consists in large measure of putting up with incomplete people. God isn’t finished with us yet so we are willing to hang in there with one another even when others get on our last nerve.
Advent is the season of hope; but it is also the time when the call to repentance first issued by John the Baptist challenges us. Maybe the real gift of the season happens when we remember the reason for the season – the increase of love more and more. During this Advent each of us is invited to welcome the presence of God in our midst. This Advent, every time we look into the face of another human being with love we must realize that we are seeing the face of God. Advent is when we recall that God is one of us — but since we don’t know which one of us he or she is we’d better not take a chance — let’s love everyone.
