Here is the text of the reflection I shared with those who came to pray with us on the second Sunday of Advent.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the early Christians was their joy. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the disciples were filled with joy (Acts 13:52) as they shared the good news of their faith with those they encountered, but long before Jesus appeared on the scene, others had already spoken of the glory of God that was to come, a robe of righteousness (Bar 5:2) that would make us stand out from the rest of the crowd.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius (Lk 3:1) another figure stood out as a sign of something wonderful that was to come. It wasn’t his clothing that made him worthy of note, but rather the words he spoke. His was a voice of one crying out in the wilderness (Lk 3:4), a voice that may well have been ignored by many but a voice that cried nonetheless, and the message he had to share would also have caused some to take notice: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight ... every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low ... (Lk 3:5). While many other words spoken during this same time period have long been lost to history, these few stand out.
Some may say that Jesus had a kind of celebrity status, but many other celebrities have faded from the limelight while the words Jesus spoke still remain on the lips of those who follow in his footsteps. There was something different about Jesus, and since that time, there has always been something different about those who call themselves Christian. People notice the difference, even if they are not always able to fully understand it.
The difference that has always characterized the disciples of Jesus is the fact that each one of us is deeply and infinitely loved. It was the realization of being deeply and infinitely loved that ultimately convinced Saint Peter: that made him weep bitter tears when he realized what he had done (cf Mk 14:72). This same realization, that each of us is deeply and infinitely loved, softens even the most hardened hearts and awakens us to the fact that we are indeed highly privileged.
When we realize the depth of God’s love for us, the only fitting answer is for us to be thankful. We are thankful to God for the love we have received, and we are thankful for the gift of others who have also been awakened to the joy of knowing that each of us is deeply and infinitely loved by God. Having encountered this joy, Saint Paul constantly prayed that the one who began this good work in the hearts of his followers would bring it to completion (Phil 1:6).
During this second week of Advent, we pray for the gift of peace: peace in our world, peace in our families, peace among our friends and peace among all those who strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Peace was the gift that the risen Jesus offered to his disciples (cf Jn 20:19, 21). Peace is the gift that is offered to us, so that like John the Baptist, like the disciples, and like all faithful followers of Jesus, others will notice in our words and actions that there is something different about us. May they discover the great joy of knowing Jesus, the one who wishes us the gift of his peace.
Something different
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the early Christians was their joy. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the disciples were filled with joy (Acts 13:52) as they shared the good news of their faith with those they encountered, but long before Jesus appeared on the scene, others had already spoken of the glory of God that was to come, a robe of righteousness (Bar 5:2) that would make us stand out from the rest of the crowd.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius (Lk 3:1) another figure stood out as a sign of something wonderful that was to come. It wasn’t his clothing that made him worthy of note, but rather the words he spoke. His was a voice of one crying out in the wilderness (Lk 3:4), a voice that may well have been ignored by many but a voice that cried nonetheless, and the message he had to share would also have caused some to take notice: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight ... every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low ... (Lk 3:5). While many other words spoken during this same time period have long been lost to history, these few stand out.
Some may say that Jesus had a kind of celebrity status, but many other celebrities have faded from the limelight while the words Jesus spoke still remain on the lips of those who follow in his footsteps. There was something different about Jesus, and since that time, there has always been something different about those who call themselves Christian. People notice the difference, even if they are not always able to fully understand it.
The difference that has always characterized the disciples of Jesus is the fact that each one of us is deeply and infinitely loved. It was the realization of being deeply and infinitely loved that ultimately convinced Saint Peter: that made him weep bitter tears when he realized what he had done (cf Mk 14:72). This same realization, that each of us is deeply and infinitely loved, softens even the most hardened hearts and awakens us to the fact that we are indeed highly privileged.
When we realize the depth of God’s love for us, the only fitting answer is for us to be thankful. We are thankful to God for the love we have received, and we are thankful for the gift of others who have also been awakened to the joy of knowing that each of us is deeply and infinitely loved by God. Having encountered this joy, Saint Paul constantly prayed that the one who began this good work in the hearts of his followers would bring it to completion (Phil 1:6).
During this second week of Advent, we pray for the gift of peace: peace in our world, peace in our families, peace among our friends and peace among all those who strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Peace was the gift that the risen Jesus offered to his disciples (cf Jn 20:19, 21). Peace is the gift that is offered to us, so that like John the Baptist, like the disciples, and like all faithful followers of Jesus, others will notice in our words and actions that there is something different about us. May they discover the great joy of knowing Jesus, the one who wishes us the gift of his peace.
Quelque chose de différent
L'une des caractéristiques distinctives parmi les premiers chrétiens c’était leur joie. Les Actes des Apôtres nous disent que les disciples étaient remplis de joie (Actes 13,52) car ils partageaient la bonne nouvelle de leur foi avec ceux qu'ils avaient rencontrés, mais bien avant que Jésus soit apparu sur la scène, d'autres avaient déjà parlé de la gloire de Dieu à venir, un manteau de la justice (Bar 5: 2) qui nous permettrait de nous démarquer du reste de la foule.
Pendant la quinzième année du règne de l'empereur Tibère (Lc 3, 1), un autre personnage se démarque en signe de fabuleux événement à venir. Ce n’était pas ses vêtements qui le rendaient digne de mention, mais plutôt les paroles qu’il prononçait. C'était la voix de celui qui crie dans le désert (Lc 3,4), une voix qui aurait peut-être été ignorée par beaucoup, mais une voix qui criait néanmoins, et le message qu'il avait dû partager aurait également amené certains à en prendre note. Préparez le chemin du Seigneur; rendez droit ses sentiers ... tout ravin sera comblé, toute montagne et toute colline sera abaissée ... (Lc 3, 5). Alors que de nombreuses autres paroles prononcées au cours de cette même période ont longtemps été perdues pour l'histoire, ces quelques-unes se démarquent.
Certaines personnes diront peut-être que Jésus avait une sorte de statut de célébrité, mais beaucoup d'autres célébrités se sont estompées alors que les paroles que Jésus a prononcées restent encore sur les lèvres de ceux qui suivent ses traces. Il y avait quelque chose de différent chez Jésus et depuis ce temps-là, il y en a toujours eu chez ceux qui se disent chrétiens. Les gens remarquent la différence, même s'ils ne sont pas toujours en mesure de bien la comprendre.
La différence qui a toujours caractérisé les disciples de Jésus c’est le fait que chacun de nous est profondément et infiniment aimé. C’est cette conscience d’être profondément et infiniment aimé qui a finalement convaincu Saint-Pierre: cela lui a fait pleurer des larmes amères quand il s’est rendu compte de ce qu’il avait fait (cf Mc 14,72). Cette même prise de conscience que chacun de nous est profondément et infiniment aimé, adoucit les coeurs les plus endurcis et nous éveille au fait que nous sommes vraiment très privilégiés.
Lorsque nous réalisons la profondeur de l’amour de Dieu, la seule réponse appropriée est que nous soyons reconnaissants. Nous sommes reconnaissants envers Dieu pour l’amour que nous avons reçu et pour le don de ceux qui ont également été éveillés à la joie de savoir que chacun de nous est profondément et infiniment aimé de Dieu. Après avoir rencontré cette joie, Saint Paul a prié que celui qui a commencé ce beau travail le continuera jusqu’à son achèvement (Phil 1,6).
En cette deuxième semaine du temps de l'Avent, nous prions pour le don de la paix : la paix dans notre monde, la paix dans nos familles, la paix entre nos amis et la paix entre tous ceux qui s'efforcent de marcher dans les traces de Jésus. La paix était le don que Jésus ressuscité a offert à ses disciples (cf Jn 20:19, 21). La paix c’est le don qui nous est offert. Ainsi, comme Jean-Baptiste, comme les disciples et comme tous les fidèles qui cherchent à vivre selon l’exemple de Jésus, d'autres remarqueront dans nos paroles et par nos actions qu'il y a quelque chose de différent en nous. Qu'ils découvrent la grande joie de connaître Jésus, celui qui nous souhaite la paix et nous en fait le don.
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