Homily: Gaudete Sunday Advent 2013 by Deacon Mary Weber, ARCWP

First, I want to ask each of you to raise a hand of blessing over me blessing me silently as this is my first homily as a newly ordained deacon. (May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you my God, my Beloved!)

I feel so blest to be able to speak on these beautiful Advent scriptures today. (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10) Let’s look at Isaiah first Isaiah knew the landscape that was familiar to his audience: desert sands, harsh, barren and parched. We don’t live in the desert but we know drought conditions. Remember the summer before last? That drought certainly left us in a similar situation. Think about that last drought. Now close your eyes and recall one of the lushest scenes that you have seen: a forest, a flower garden, or a meadow green and fragrant. Isaiah is promising these exiled Israelites the likes of Carmel and Sharon. They were known for their flowers and forests. The Israelites were being enticed to believe that which was promised to them. They had lost their hope, abandoned their vision and refused to accept Yahweh’s promise. Isaiah was more concerned about their spiritual landscapes than the natural landscapes.

Isaiah was able to look beyond their banishment.  He knew that the deprivation that the exiles experienced came from their ignoring God’s plan for them. So, he wanted to give them light and hope. They were weakened and fearful but they would be restored to great vigor: “Strengthen the hands of the feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not, here is your God…….”Rejoice and be glad, your God comes!

(James5:7-10) In the second reading from James, we are encouraged to be patient like the one who plants the seeds, the farmer and the gardener plant then wait for great things to happen in time. A grandmother waiting for the birth of that first grandchild knows this patience. The homeless family helping to lay the foundation of the Habitat for Humanity Home that will be their very own, experiences this patience. The immigrant who finally receives notice of citizenship understands this kind of patience.

 Did you know that” impatience ranks as one of the most confessed sins in the church?” How many of us can relate to struggles with patience? I certainly can. Learning patience takes a lot of patience. Patience is not the same as putting up with things that irritate us. Other words for patience are: endurance. tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence and serenity. (Thesaurus) Perhaps these other ways of looking at patience are why James exhorts us not to complain about each other. He sees the connection between impatience and complaining. Rejoice and be glad, our God comes!

(Matt.11, 2-11)In the gospel we find John the Baptist in prison. He sends his trusted followers to Jesus to find out if Jesus is the one. Jesus answers by focusing on his works, his ministry to the suffering. Isaiah, today’s psalm (146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10) and the gospel all elaborate on the work of the Messiah. He is the one who will touch the suffering and make them whole. And the poor will have the Good News proclaimed to them. Then Jesus talks to the crowds about John the Baptizer, the prisoner. He tells those gathered that John is a prophet but that he is more than a prophet, that he is a messenger who will prepare the way for Jesus. My thoughts turn to the prophet, Nelson Mandela who spent 27 Advents in prison preparing for the peace, reconciliation and justice so needed in South Africa and in the world. This work is not completed.

Rejoice and be glad, our God comes!

I have a friend, a woman priest who says that we are to be Jesus’ twin. We are to duplicate his work, his ministry. We are to touch and relieve suffering and inequality today in his name. I look out at this community and know that I am seeing the twins of Jesus. I am seeing those who are proclaiming the good news to the poor, and, I am seeing those who are strengthening the family of God, I am seeing the twins of Jesus who are hastening his return and showing his face to those around us.  Be mindful during this third week of Advent that we are to be the twins of Jesus. Rejoice and be glad, our God comes!      Amen