Advent

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Advent

Hope     Peace

Prepare     Recognize     Resolve

Walk In the Light

Awake

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Isaiah 2: 1 to 5

This is what came to Isaiah, son of Amoz, about Judah and Jerusalem.

In the future, the mountain of the Lord's house will be the highest mountain and it will be raised far above all the hills that surround it.

Those from every nation shall come and the people will proclaim:

"Let us all go up the mountain of the Lord and come to the house of Jacob. God will instruct us and we will walk in God's paths."

The instruction will come from Zion and God's word from Jerusalem.

God will judge the nations and impose conditions on many peoples.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations will not battle and there will be no more wars.

Come, house of Jacob, and walk in the light of the Lord.

Reflection

An end of war!

That would be amazing. If we could sit down as sisters and brothers and work together to feed everyone, educate all, provide housing and medical care, we would indeed be walking in the light of the Lord.

We know clearly what our God wants. How will we respond?

Advent is a time to reflect on our response to God's call. We can take some time, as the people in the time of Isaiah, to listen to the instruction God wants to share with us.

The paths of God are ways of peace and understanding. Maybe we have been too quick to judge others without taking the time to listen to the message that is in their heart. 

Isaiah says that God will do the judging. Our role is a simple one: we are called to take all of our swords of hatred and beat them into the plows that will prepare the soil of compassion and charity.

We are being challenged to become peacemakers in a world that can be violent and full of hate.

Come, Jesus, in this Advent time and fill our hearts with your Peace so that we might share that Peace with each person we meet.

1. Can there really be an end to war?

2. How do you walk in the light of the Lord?

3. What does Advent mean for you?

4. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions from John J. McNamara)