Author: yuengerwv

ln this reading from Isaiah we see at some point in the future the LORD will raise up an offspring of David who shall right the wrongs and bring justice to all. Which one of us do not long for justice? Those who do evil in God’s sight, those who are ruthless, those who take advantage of the poor, those who pride themselves for their success, those who do wicked deeds presuming they will not be caught, these do not want justice. More importantly in this passage, however, is the notion that this offspring of Jesse will be a judge so wise, so full of knowledge, so full of wisdom and understanding that even the Gentiles and those of many nations will seek him out. Do we seek him too? Do we invite others to seek him?
Paul’s letter reminds us that what was written by the prophets is for our endurance and encouragement. Do we sing God’s praises even when others around us don’t want to hear of God’s mercy? Do we invite others to prepare themselves especially those who believe they have no need of any of god’s mercy because the only god they recognize is themselves?
We hear of John’s message of repentance in the Gospel. Do we live that message ourselves? Do we share that message with others? Are we similar to the Pharisees and Sadducees and presume ourselves to be saved because we call ourselves “Christian”? John calls us to “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” When we look around us, what kind of fruit do we see? Are we well prepared for the offspring of Jesse to come with Justice?

As we begin Advent, we hear Isaiah talking about the authority of God’s dwelling place. Here he refers to the temple in Jerusalem. But how about the temple in our hearts. Have we prepared a place for him or is Our heart busy with many things? When we do go to Church, to the Lord’s house, do we rejoice to have the opportunity to give him praise and thanksgiving?
Paul says now is the time to wake up. How many of us want to hit the snooze bar and drift back to sleep again? Do we throw off the darkness of our lives and prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus?
Like Paul, Jesus in speaking of Noah challenges us as to whether we are awake or asleep? He points out that all the “good things” we are busy with but are we ready? If we should have a calamity fall upon us suddenly, have we established the relationship with God and Neighbor so as to be ready to meet our maker? When our time comes, we will not be able to hit the snooze bar. Do you think God will listen to our excuses if we are not ready? Somehow, I don’t think he will accept the ”I’m basically a good person.” Or, ”I’m not a bad person.” Either we are ready to get on the boat or not.

The first reading reminds us that the earliest kings were warriors. They were the ones who led others into battle and were victorious. For this reason, David was made the King of Israel because he had led them to much military success. The people considered the king then to be the primary shepherd of the people, the one to watch over the flock and fight their battles.
Paul reminds us that it is not the king who wins the battles but God himself. He is the one who delivers from darkness.  Paul reminds us that Jesus is a kjng, but a king who sacrifices himself despite having power and dominion from of old. In the Gospel we hear the crowds mocking Jesus as the “King of the Jews”. This reading reminds us that Jesus is a King with humility, not a king with power and an oversized ego. How do we respond to others who mock us or treat us unjustly because of our faith? Do we fight back or do we tum the other cheek? As the last Sunday before Advent begins perhaps, we should already be looking into our hearts to see if the King dwells there.

The prophet in the first reading picks up from last week’s Gospel and reminds us that, “the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble.” If we truly believe such, does it alter our behavior? We tend to dislike the fire and brimstone sermons, yet when trying to reach some people is that all that will work? How many people ignore the traffic laws unless there is a police officer behind them? Can we not do the good because it pleases God as to only do the good because we fear punishment?
Paul reminds us of the need to be good examples for each other. Can we show people our positive actions due to our love, or do we show them our actions due to our fear? We constantly are preaching to others, who observe our behaviors, by what we do and how we behave. Do we respond to others as Jesus would have us do, or do we look out only for ourselves?
As we come near the end of our annual journey, we are reminded that nothing on em1h will last forever. Are we ready for our end? Do we treat others in such a way as to have no regrets? How often do we do things just because it is the right thing to do? Someone once said, “Character is who you are in the dark.” Another asked, “If you could do anything without ever being discovered, what would you do?” None of us expect to leave this world without dying, are we confident we have lived in such a way so as to be ready for the next life? Too many people say, “I’m basically a good person.” Or, ”I’m not a bad person.” Remember Jesus said you can judge a tree by its fruit, and that we are called to be holy as the Father is holy.

In the first reading we have the seven brothers who suffered torture and death for their faith. Fortunately, few of us in this country have been asked to die for the faith in recent years. However, how many of our fellow Christians and Catholics around the world still suffer greatly and even are killed for the faith? Even in our own country people of faith are sometimes made to be second class citizens. Do we endure such as did the seven brothers or do we capitulate and say “Oh well, that’s the law”? When unjust or unfair laws or regulations or court rulings are passed or promoted do we protest them? Are we stalwart witnesses for the faith even when we are penalized for our faith? Do we believe we will be joyfully rewarded for our witness in the life to come, or do we seek comfort io this world?
Following up on the first reading, Paul’s letter he encourages us “that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people, for not all have faith.” We need to constantly encourage and support each other in the faith for no one can endure easily alone. How well do we reach out to others who are experiencing difficulties because of their faith life?
The Gospel reinforces the understanding of the life to come. All of the readings today reinforce the idea of our future life. Do we truly believe such? Are we willing to suffer in this world so as to be able to rejoice in the next? Karl Marx thought this was great foolishness. Many in our world today agree with Marx in behavior if not in creed. They live their lives as if there is no tomorrow, there is no resurrection. If we believe in the resurrection, does it influence how we respond to the difficulties and tortures of our lives?

Have you ever looked up at a night sky and marveled at how large the universe is?  As large as it is, it is smaller than a grain of wheat from a balance or a single drop of dew on the earth!  Yet with all of creation that there is, God cares about each human person and invites them to enter into a wonderful relationship.  Yet despite this, people sometimes prefer their wickedness and sins.  Paul invites us to hold fast to the faith we have been given, despite the many voices around us striving to lead us astray.
The Gospel reminds us that Jesus desires to enter into our lives and our homes in a special way.  Zacchaeus, a tax collector, a person looked down upon by his fellow Israelites because he is seen as an unscrupulous person supporting the Roman domination of their country.  Yet Jesus looks into our hearts and knows each of us more intimately than we know ourselves.  Thus, when we get lost in our sinfulness and wickedness, Jesus doesn’t abandon us, but invites us to reform and return to his embrace.  As small and insignificant as we are in the universe, God still cares about you and about me.  As we prepare for the coming Advent season, perhaps it is a good time for us to also care about God.

As a pastor, people often ask me to pray for them, adding that they think the priest has a more direct line to God and will obtain results faster. The reading from Sirach reminds us that God shows no partiality. The one who God bears best is “the one who serves God willingly!” In many ways, the lowly “ordinary” person’s prayer may be beard by God long before the prayers of the priest. “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds.” Thus, perhaps instead of asking the priest to pray we should ask those we consider the least likely.
Paul talks today about being “poured out like a libation.” In our service of God, do we ever feel like such? Do we find ourselves being drained as we do what God has asked of us? If such is the case we are in good company. Jesus’ blood was poured out for you and me. As his disciples, should not ours be poured out as well? The key is not when or how we are poured out but have we, like Paul, kept the faith even in face of trials or desertion by our friends?
As a priest, I have often heard people say to me, “I am not a bad person” or “I haven’t done anything that bad.” Such are the same people to whom Jesus addresses today’s parable. Both of these comments stem from people who are “convinced of their own righteousness.” Such a person is looking at others and comparing themselves favorably to those otl1ers. The only one we should be comparing ourselves with is the master, Jesus himself. Who comparing themselves to God can say “I am not a bad person” or “I haven’t done anything that bad?” As we hear today’s Gospel let us humble ourselves before God.

What do we learn from the first reading? About a battle? Hardly. The importance of Moses keeping his hands raised represents our need to keep responding to God’s call regardless of how tired or exhausted we may be. It also points out the need for community. The need for us to be willing to allow others to assist us as we accomplish God’s work instead of thinking we can do everything by ourselves. The reading along with the psalm reminds us that, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
The second reading encourages us to remain faithful to what the Church has taught us. Many people over the years have decided they were smarter than the Church and knew better than anyone else what God has in mind. Remaining faithful may require humility on our part to recognize that perhaps we are not the brightest bulb in the package. He reminds us that all scripture is inspired by God, but that we cannot separate that from what we have learned and what has been handed on to us by the apostles. We also need to be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.
It is easy to become distracted by the details in the Gospel. Remember the intent of the parable is to remind us to pray always without becoming weary. How often do we pray for something and then become upset because we do not get what we asked for quickly? Jesus invites us to pray with faith and trust in God’s providence. His final question though challenges us when he asks, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Do we have the faith to trust that God will do what is best for us? Do we have the faith that our prayers will be answered, in God’s time?

In today’s first reading we here of Naaman. What is important for us to remember is Naaman is not an Israelite. He is there because one of his servants is, and recommended he go to visit Elisha. Naaman’s cleansing reminds us that our God is the God of all peoples, not just Jews, Christians or Muslims. He cares for everyone who is willing to listen to his words and his prophets. As Mother Angelica of EWTN once said, “Sometimes God asks us to do the ridiculous in order for him to do the impossible.” The psalm reiterates this when we say, “The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”
As we become believers in God’s saving power and become his disciples we are called to do as Naaman did, follow God’s directives, even though it didn’t make sense. Are we willing to do as God has asked of us? Even if it hurts? Even if it means being ostracized by our friends? Even if it means getting fired from our job? We too are called to be witnesses, (martyrs) for Christ.
The Gospel reminds us of our need to say ”Thank you” to God. How often do we take for granted the blessings around us? Today we hear of ten lepers, who like Naaman were seeking a cure. While all ten were Israelites, it appears that nine were Jewish and one was Samaritan. After being cleansed only the Samaritan came back to thank Jesus. As you remember Samaritans were among the “bad people” for most Jews in Jesus’ time. Like Naaman, though he was a foreigner, he appreciated what God had done. Do we thank God for every blessing? Wouldn’t we be on our knees all day long for such? How often are we too busy, tired or irritated with the Church leaders to assemble on Sunday to give glory and thanks to God?

When we are experiencing difficulties and cry out to the Lord for help; do we ever feel he isn’t listening, or is taking his time while we are in misery?  No doubt Habakkuk felt that way.  Yet, what was God’s reply…be patient it will come ad will not be late.  We need to remember things happen at God’s timing not ours.  We need to remember to be flexible and not harden our hearts as the Psalm reminds us. 
Paul reminds us that we need to periodically stir into a flame the gifts that God has given us.  It is easy to be coasting along on what we have already accomplished all the while, we become cool to the eagerness with which we started a mission.  I remember making a quilt.  When I started I was all excited, by the I was 4/5^th of the way through, I was tired of the effort and simply wanted the project to be finished!
In the Gospel Jesus reminds us, like Habakkuk, that things occur in God’s timing.  We have the obligation, like good servants, to continue with our tasks without worrying about the end results.  We are not the teacher/master of the projects we are working on; God is.  When things are ultimately completed, we need to remember that we were merely using the gifts God gave us as “unprofitable servants”.  It is God who accomplishes all we strive for; we are merely his tools.