Anticipate greater good times

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to pause and contemplate the goodness we will find in the people around us who also are created in the image of God.

Hills are leveled

The Prophet Baruch describes people returning to the desolate Jerusalem led by the graciousness of the Lord.

The great love of Paul for the people of Philippi is evident in the prayer from the Letter to the Philippians.

* [1:3–11] As in Rom 1:8–15 and all the Pauline letters except Galatians, a thanksgiving follows, including a direct prayer for the Philippians (Phil 1:9–11); see note on Rom 1:8. On their partnership for the gospel (Phil 1:5), cf. Phil 1:29–30; 4:10–20. Their devotion to the faith and to Paul made them his pride and joy (Phil 4:1). The characteristics thus manifested are evidence of the community’s continuing preparation for the Lord’s parousia (Phil 1:6, 10). Paul’s especially warm relationship with the Philippians is suggested here (Phil 1:7–8) as elsewhere in the letter. The eschatology serves to underscore a concern for ethical growth (Eph 1:9–11), which appears throughout the letter.

In Psalm 126 we respond “The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy.”

In the Gospel from Luke, John the Baptist, becomes the messenger for the Messiah coming to return Israel to intimate relationship with God as prophesied by Isaiah.

* [3:4] The Essenes from Qumran used the same passage to explain why their community was in the desert studying and observing the law and the prophets (1QS 8:12–15).

Steve Scholer comments that maybe Paul gives us a clue about how to let the Holy Spirit enter more deeply into our lives, one that is consistent with our daily Examen of Conscience, when he prays that we learn to “discern what is of value” from a heart that is filled with love instead of animosity.

When we are engaged with someone, whether through business or personal interactions, we should try and view them and our conversation with an open heart, not one closed off by presupposed feelings or prejudices. And this is doubly true with spouses and family.
All too often we pick the smallest of “hills to die on” because our hearts are closed off and we have not let the Holy Spirit take control. Through the daily practice of discernment, we can grow closer to God, so we can learn to take notice when our actions and personal motives are interfering with our freedom to live our lives in faith, hope and love.

Don Schwager quotes “Touching Jesus by faith,” by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.

"Consider the text 'And all flesh shall see the salvation of God' (Luke 3:6). There is no difficulty at all in taking this to mean 'And all flesh shall see the Christ of God.' After all, Christ was seen in the body and will be seen in the body when he comes again to judge the living and the dead. Scripture has many texts showing that he is the 'salvation of God,' particularly the words of the venerable old man, Simeon, who took the child in his arms and said, 'Now let your servant go in peace, O Lord, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation' (Luke 2:29-30)." (excerpt from CITY OF GOD 22.29)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Baruch 5:1-9 asks When was the last time you saw Jesus in another person? Not just in a vague “I suppose so” way, but in a specific inspiring “Hey! I just felt the Lord!” way?

What Baruch told the Israelites the Holy Spirit wants to tell you: If you want to see Jesus, don’t just look up to heaven. Look out at the people around you as well.

Friar Jude Winkler notes how the lamentations of Baruch give way to celebration of the return of the exiles in a Second Exodus. Paul exhorts the Philippians to be found blameless on the Day of the Lord. Friar Jude notes that as Luke is connecting his audience to understand Christians as good Roman citizens, the Evangelist identifies John the Baptist as announcing a Third Exodus for which he urges seeking forgiveness of sins.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Thomas Keating  to present that prayer is the opening of mind and heart—our whole being—to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, and emotions. Through grace we open our awareness to God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing—closer than consciousness itself.

Contemplation is an exercise in openness, in keeping all three spaces open long enough for you to notice other hidden material. When you can do that, you are content with the present moment and can then wait upon futures you know will be given by grace. This is “full-access knowing”—not irrational, but intuitive, rational, and trans-rational all at once.

In the recognition of the Presence of God we are invited to contemplate the changes to which we are called during this Advent season.

References

1	(n.d.). Baruch, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/baruch/5
2	(n.d.). Philippians, chapter 1 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/philippians/1
3	(n.d.). Luke, chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke3:123
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
7	(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/