1st Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10
Reflection: June Zhu
“Courage, do not be afraid.” This sentence struck me when we were planning. I was thinking about those brave young people in China who were holding a piece of white paper to protest the Chinese government’s strict surveillance and intrusion during COVID-19 lock down. Their action inspired the world. Their action gave me hope that, someday, freedom will prevail there.
2nd Reading: James 5:7-10
Reflection: Lois Merrill
Our second reading tells us to be patient. The definition of patience is: The capacity to accept or tolerate or delay trouble and sufferings without getting angry or upset. The reading speaks of the farmer who awaits the precious yield of the soil, looking forward to it patiently while the soil receives the winter and spring rains. In which ways must we be patient in our everyday lives?
When on has a health issue, one must often patiently await the results of laboratory tests, minor surgery outcomes – some of these may take days or weeks. Can we do this calmly, not judging anyone if it takes longer than anticipated?
As to our families – younger children require patience with dressing and listening. Do we do this lovingly or just try to hasten the event. We must remember children mimic our actions – as we address their needs, so will they aspire to be like us.
Our older children also will lean on us at some point. Can we not judge their decisions but listen to them as they go forth? If they make mistakes, we need to patiently help them adjust their path.
With the elderly, it will take time to assist them with walking, dressing, and helping them with decisions. Most of all, taking the time to listen to them as their memories slow down…take extra time to let them slowly express their ideas.
Moral virtue comes from patience because it contributes to happiness and living well. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a thoughtful outlook on life. Yes, we are not in control…thus patience is the answer!
Gospel: Matthew 2-11
Reflection: Bob Merrill (summarized from notes taken)
The second paragraph of today’s Gospel tells us:
“…YHWH is coming to save you.”
Then the eyes of those who are blind will be opened,
the ears of those who are deaf will be cleared,
then those who are lame will leap like deer,
and the tongues of those who are mute will sing for joy.
Who are the Have Nots? Who are the Haves?
We right here are the Haves – we are lucky by the quirk of birth to have been born Haves. Within the U.S. income distribution, we represent the top 5 – 10%. People who earn the remaining 90 – 95% of income are the Have Nots. Within the world income distribution, we represent the top thousandths of a percent.
We need to keep the Have Nots in mind this holiday season.
Homily: Tuck Grinnell (summarized from notes taken)
For the second time, I was going to bring a hideous plant to mass today,
but I forgot. It’s an orchid with gray feelers. It’s pretty ugly when not in
bloom. Orchids produce incredibly beautiful and abundant blooms, and
then they rest for about four months. It’s like our lives.
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is at the end of his life, he’s in prison,
and beginning to have doubts. He sends a message to Jesus asking,
“Are you ‘The One who is to come’ or do we look for another?” Jesus
tells John’s disciples to go back to John and testify to the miracles they
are seeing.
Sometimes life looks ugly, but with God’s promise what dies blooms.
Communion Meditation: The Yellow Bus
I pick the children up at the bottom of the mountain where the orange bus lets them off in the wind. They run for the car like leaves blowing. Not for keeps, to be sure, but at least for the time being, the world has given them back again, and whatever the world chooses to do later on, it can never so much as lay a hand on the having-beenness of this time. The past is inviolate. We are none of us safe, but everything that has happened is safe. In all the vast and empty reaches of the universe it can never be otherwise that than, when the orange bus stopped with its red lights blinking, these two children were on it. Their noses were running. One of them dropped a sweater. I drove them home.