Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 13 December 2020

Las Huelgas Apocalypse

Third Sunday of Advent....

How do you think people received John the Baptists message? John's gospel gives us a picture of slight confusion as well as sharp questioning, from those who heard him, but putting aside that clever device of further questions in order to elicit further information for us, John has the Baptist say this:

He said:

"I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert,

"Make straight the way of the Lord,"'*

as Isaiah the prophet said."(Jn 1: 23)

There is something both humbling and powerful about John's answer, though he has come to bring light by testifying so preparing us to receive that true Light, he steps back from any personal egoism, 'I am only a voice' proclaiming what Isaiah said. As we look around at our leaders both in Church and State how many of them give us this example of preparation, a servant model of leadership that acknowledges other people's contributions? Do we do this ourselves, or, as too often happens, do we let our own ambitions, our desire to be centre stage take over? I would gently suggest that this is a prerequisite for any of us taking this holy season and the coming feasts seriously. John is our model for proclaiming the Christ!

Nevertheless this isn't all, far too often the Scriptures and our own faith life are talked about as 'serious' things, as if humour, lightness, amusement and laughter don't really belong to this aspect of our lives. But that is a distortion, for good humour is at the heart of what a Christian is all about. Did you pick up words that suggest a lighter touch in the other two Sunday readings from Isaiah and Thessalonians? Here are some of the themes running through them; 'glad tidings, healing, release, vindication, favour, rejoice, joy, salvation, wrapped, adorned, justice, rejoicing', we ceaselessly praying with thanks, preserved blameless that God may accomplish holiness in us' as we wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus!

It is a list to gladden our hearts in this time of difficulty and pandemic, all of which deserves further consideration, perhaps by taking each word in turn and letting it speak to us. All of these words are able to lift us out of any darkness of mind and spirit because they underlie how our God is constantly at work supporting and encouraging us, but also shows how light a touch the Most High has with us all. We talk about the coming season as one of joy and gladness, now on this Sunday we are asked to 'make it so'! I suppose that when we reflect on the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus there is an air of final solemnity about it, but I remind myself that some of the most oft used words of `Jesus are 'peace be with you' and 'do not be afraid'! The kind of fear which makes us cower, hide, feel frightened or depressed, is not the true fear of the Lord, that is quite something altogether. Fear in that sense is wisdom, opening our eyes to the greatness of the Holy One, but also pausing to understand that we are totally loved by this Being, always.

So as we move through Advent, let us make an inner promise to each other that we will try hard to bring a touch of joy and good cheer to those we know. That in our prayer we shall maintain vigilance for intercession especially for those we never normally consider, that in any of our activities involving others we will try to support those who need our help. May we learn to be of good cheer, good humour at this time, relaxing a bit more in front of the `One who bids us come. Here are two prayers I composed for a Carol service, may they speak to us now. Amen.

Jesus our friend and brother, we remember Your first coming on earth to share our life, bless each one of us in this season. We hope for Your second coming in glory, but as we live in waiting expectation help us look for Your presence in our own lives and in those around us, for this is Your gentlest coming to us, each day. Maranatha! Come Jesus Come!

Spirit of joy, music and laughter, come to us in the small moments of our lives, that as we celebrate this Holy Season we may discover the true meaning of Christmas, the love that brings us together and holds us close to You. We pray for all that are suffering from Covid, in hospital in ITU, at home, for their carers and medical workers, for families and friends bereaved by the loss of somebody close. Pour out that comfort beyond measure on our world, now and always. Amen

Lectio

Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate

Far from being timid, morose, acerbic or melancholy, or putting on a dreary face, the saints are joyful and full of good humour. Though completely realistic, they radiate a positive and hopeful spirit. The Christian life is "joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17), for "the necessary result of the love of charity is joy; since every lover rejoices at being united to the beloved… the effect of charity is joy." Having received the beautiful gift of God's word, we embrace it "in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 1:6). If we allow the Lord to draw us out of our shell and change our lives, then we can do as Saint Paul tells us: "Rejoice in the Lord always; I say it again, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

The prophets proclaimed the times of Jesus, in which we now live, as a revelation of joy. "Shout and sing for joy!" (Isaiah 12:6). "Get you up to a high mountain, O herald of good tidings to Zion; lift up your voice with strength, O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem!" (Isaiah 40:9). "Break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and he will have compassion on his afflicted" (Isaiah 49:13). "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he" (Zechariah 9:9). Nor should we forget Nehemiah's exhortation: "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (8:10).