How do we know
which way to go?
We begin the
season of Advent with readings that focus on the end times in order to arrive a
few weeks later at the birth of Jesus, In a sense, the entire season of Advent
is about reaching the goal of our lives:
God’s love made perfect in us.
But we must not lose sight of that goal!
How do we manage this? How do we know which way to go, which direction
to turn, especially when the unknown threatens us on all sides?
The Book of Jeremiah promises the people of Israel a messiah, who will be sent to bring
salvation to the world: I will raise up for David a just shoot,
God tells the house of Israel and Judah. The author of Psalm 25 asks the Lord for
guidance: Your ways, o Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in
your truth. Both texts recognize
that to embrace and then reveal the perfect love of God in us is not something
we can achieve on our own; it is something only God can achieve in us. And our guide is none other than Jesus, our ‘true
north’ who offers us direction, a viable path
to that perfect love.
Shortly before the
Last Supper in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples that trials and tribulations are coming: People
will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world. But so long as the disciples remain vigilant, there is no need for them to
fear: they are to focus on Jesus himself,
so that they are ready when the time comes.
Paul tells the Thessalonians that they must not be content with what
they are currently doing, though it is good – they must do more, increasing and abounding in love for one another and for all. To do so is to live a life in Christ, so
that, when the Son of Man comes in a
cloud with power and great glory, we can look up and see the face of God
who loves us, and be the face of that love for our world.
How do we know
which way to go? Hearts strengthened, we must be focused on
Jesus, our guide, our true north, so that we may be ready when the time comes,
ready to make decisions that are just and live-giving because we are following
our compass. Eucharist,
Christ-within-us, offers us that compass; to open our hearts to God is to
remember where true north is, that we might remain on track, on the path Christ
sets before us, the path to perfect love, embraced and shared with our world.
This post is based
on Fr. Pat’s first homily during Advent 2015.
