Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. (Baruch 5:1-4)
With these words that we hear at Mass today, the prophet Baruch helps to prepare us for the coming of our God. As Jerusalem languished following its destruction by the Babylonians, Baruch assured the ancient Israelites that God would make Jerusalem the place of his dwelling once again. We, of course, know God did come to Jerusalem in the person of Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son. During this Advent Season, we eagerly await the celebration of his coming at Christmas. As we begin a new liturgical year with this sacred season of Advent, allow me to reflect on the season and the Gospel of Luke (from which we will hear extensively during this liturgical year).
Like the people of ancient Israel, we are all mourning the loss of loved ones or friends or neighbors and living in misery as we experience an ongoing attack not by a foreign nation but a microscopic virus. It is a time that is challenging us all in a variety of ways. But, like the ancient Israelites, we can live in hope because we know that our God is close at hand. We human beings cannot live without hope. This is such an essential element of humanity that we cannot live without it. We must have something to live for, something to which we look forward. Once there is nothing to live for, we give up and die. But, we can find all sorts of things to live for and we can hope for so many different things that will give us reason to live. Whether it be as close to us as living for our children and grandchildren or as global as trying to make the world a little better or as simple as eagerly anticipating a return to normalcy, these all give us a reason to live, something for which we can hope.
One of the reasons we Christians read the Old Testament during the Advent season is to learn what we should hope for as followers of Christ. The people of the Old Testament times had great hopes. As we hear in today’s first reading from the Book of Baruch, they were eagerly awaiting the time when God would lead “Israel in joy by the light of his glory!”
And yet, our hope is a little different than the hope of the people of the Old Testament even though we live in the age of fulfillment. The coming of Jesus in history has brought about the beginning of the Kingdom of God. So, our hope is for its complete fulfillment as Jesus prepares to come again. As we celebrate the Season of Advent, let us turn our hope to the fulfillment of God’s plan, which will bring lasting peace and joy to our lives!
Beginning last Sunday, we hear from the Gospel of Luke throughout the Sundays of this liturgical year. Each of the years in the Church’s three-year Sunday cycle features one of the three Synoptic Gospels. Year A features the Gospel of Matthew, year B features the Gospel of Mark, and year C – which just started last Sunday – features the Gospel of Luke. This cycle allows us to hear each gospel, which presents our Lord’s teachings in slightly different ways since each gospel was written to different audiences at different times under different circumstances and for different reasons. The Gospel of John is also featured on certain Sundays throughout the year as well as on the first Sundays of Lent and during the Easter season.
The Gospel of Luke is generally thought to be written between 80 and 90AD in Syria. Intended for Greek converts to Christianity, it sought to encourage them to be confident that Jesus was, indeed, the Savior and that God’s plan for salvation included the Gentiles. Like the other gospels, the text does not identify the author. Although it was traditionally thought to be a Syrian physician, modern scripture scholars identify him as a well-educated non-Palestinian Gentile convert – possibly Luke, a companion to Paul. He admits at the very beginning of his gospel that he is not an eye-witness of Jesus but has “decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence…so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received” (Lk 1:3+4).
As we begin this new liturgical year, let us listen carefully to all the readings – and especially the Gospel of Luke – which are proclaimed to give us hope as we prepare for the Kingdom of God!
RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS COLLECTION
We are blessed to have approximately 2,500 religious sisters, brothers and priests, in 74 religious congregations serving in our archdiocese. They have dedicated their lives to serve in a wide variety of ministries, teaching in our numerous elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, caring for the sick and marginalized, and serving our parishes in countless ways. These consecrated men and women have brought the person of Christ to us through their loving care. Both in active ministry and in contemplative life, we recognize the fruits of their labor. Currently, over 800 of these religious sisters, brothers and priests are retired. Even in their retirement, however, they grace us with their daily prayers.
Many religious communities struggle to provide for their aging members. During the early and mid-twentieth century, the Catholic Church in the U.S.A. experienced a surge in vocations to religious life; numbers peaked in the mid-1960s. Care for the elderly members was provided largely by younger ones. In recent years, however, the number of religious vocations decreased; meanwhile, lifespans increased. The result is far fewer younger members available to support the retirement and eldercare needs of senior members. Today, 68% of the religious communities have a median age of 70 or older. It is easy to understand their need for our financial support.
With gratitude to our many religious congregations and recognizing the pressing difficulties they confront with declining numbers and the costly obligations for the care of their aging members, we join with our Archdiocese in taking up the national Retirement Fund for Religious Collection this weekend. This appeal enables us to demonstrate our genuine appreciation for their service. I am confident that you will be generous in your response to this collection and I ask your continued prayers for all of the consecrated men and women throughout our Archdiocese; be assured of their prayers for you.