Dear Readers, Three recent homilies are given in chronological order here.
Dec. 5-7. Lectionary # 181 (weekday) # 6 Sunday, Dec. 6, and Lectionary #
182 Monday of Second week in Advent.

Scripture: Lectionary # 181. Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26. Psalm 147:1-6. Matthew
9:35-10:1.6-8:

Recently a pastor was asked by his bishop to prioritize ten concerns for
the dicocese as seen from his particular parish. He presented them to his
council but then realized he had not really prioritized them; he met with
one of the lay leaders in the sacristy and she pointed out that he had to
prioritize them in sending the report to the bishop. She put vocations
first on the list and he realized that made sense in the light of the
future needs of the parish and the churches of the diocese. This is really
important and religious congregations usually have it close to the top of
the list of their priorities.

In today's Gospel Jesus calls his disciples to do the same by telling them
the harvest is great but there are not enough laborers to bring in the new
harvest of the fields. We need to pray that the Lord send more laborers
into the harvest field. Maybe Jesus shows us how to do this while keeping
it before us as a priority.

Jesus works first with his own people from Nazareth and the neighboring
towns. He calls his own disciples from among those he invited to be friends
in following him. We as mothers and fathers are also called to think along
these lines with one of our sons or daughters who may be open to the call
of the Lord in religious vowed life or the priesthood. Jesus worked first
with his own then went out reaching others through his inviting message to
join the goal of building up the kingdom of God. The disciple will do this
after his example and his encouragement for them to pray that the Lord of
the harvest send others into the ripe fields.

Each pastor and church must be concerned with doing the same and making it
a priority for the future of the church. One's own parish comes first then
an outreach beyond it to call others to the following of the Lord.
Vocations are necessary for the future of the Church as a resource and
necessary goal for pastors and for all of us who can influence young
persons to think about the call of God to religious life or the priesthood.

His disciples came to realize that this is how to make the kingdom of God
real and palpable now and in the near future. They do this for him and
learn from how to bring in people to Jesus and to heal and cure those like
Jesus did. This too is our call no matter how young or old we may be.
Like the good pastor above we have to follow those who know how to
prioritize.

Scripture: Lectionary # 6 Second Sunday of Advent. Cycle C. Baruch 5:10-9.
Psalm 126:1-6. Luke 3:1-6:

Isaiah is filled with many surprises and among them is the giving of new
names and qualities to God. We have seen recently Isaiah calls God our
Justice. Baruch, another prophet who is post-exilic (comes after the
middle of the sixth century B.C.) gives us the hope that all will be
restored to the people of Israel and they will be given a new name by
God--the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship." Baruch is a
prophet of hope. He also does his prophecies in a meditative and reflective
mode which is so fitting for Advent reading.

Psalm 126 expresses the joy and exhuberance of the Israelites once they do
return to their homeland. It is like a dream come true. Hope is now
fulfilled in what God had promised in Baruch and Isaiah. They sing out,
"The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy." (Response
of Psalm 126).

Paul prays constantly and with fervor for his dear community of Philippi.
His opening two chapters are excellent examples of prayer centering on
Jesus and the Gospel. This prepares the Philippians for the coming of the
day of Christ and urges them to grow in holiness through their union with
Jesus.

John the Baptist enters the world of history in Luke's Gospel and helps us
to prepare the way for the Lord while we reflect on his own total
self-giving and his humble service to God. He preaches a baptism with
water that will lead to the baptism Jesus will give in the Spirit and with
fire. We are called by John to have a metanoia or change of mind about how
we relate to others, to God, and to self. As the greatest among those who
are born of women, Jesus, calls us to listen to the Baptist so that we may
also understand Jesus himself. Jesus must increase, I must decrease. Fr.
Rohr points out that our ego is an acronym for "Edging God Out" while the
Baptist edges God in. We need to level ourselves to make straight the
paths of the Lord in our hearts. Like the Baptist we are to witness to the
one who comes soon and is greater than all of us. God sends the Baptist
into our history to help all flesh see that God's salvation is near. Amen

Scripture: Lectionary# 182: Isaiah 31:1-10. Psalm 85:9-14. Luke 5:17-26:

Who in my life hs cleared a way for me to meet Jesus? Jesus himself need
John the Baptist to clear and prepare a way for the Lord. (See again Luke
16:16). Deserts and mountains have to be made level for the highway on
which the Lord of history will enter--history that shows us salvation in
becoming fully human as he did and as John did. Mary, too, by her "yes" to
God's angelic messenger prepared the way for Jesus.

The three or four men in today's Gospel who let their friend down through a
roof torn open by them help the poor man on the stretcher to meet Jesus. He
is forgiven his sins; he is healed. What a gift of friendship these four
were to the man! No effort in helping him meet Jesus was spared. How far
would we go to make someone meet Jesus? How far do we go to meet Jesus in
someone? These questions are prompted by today's Gospel.

Friends are important for helping us meet Jesus and for finding the way to
Him. Perhaps, many of them are shy or unassuming like a spiritual director,
a confessor, a pastor, or someone who just smiles and listens to us.
Teachers, ministers, young campus assistants often help us to meet Jesus by
their smile and their prayers and interest in us. We receive much from
these friends who help us see how much God has given us in sending us John
the Baptist, then helping us discover and find the Virgin Mary of Nazareth,
and finally meeting Jesus himself. How can we learn how to do this for
others like so many of the people whom we know do this? How can we be
givers rather than takers in what we face each day. The Advent Scriptures
are shouting loudly how to do this. They even give us specific names and
examples. It is time to be awake and alert. It is Advent time and we
already are in the second week of this beautiful season of preparation to
meet Jesus. Amen