Deacon Tom Writes,
“An Advent Journey”
Advent is traditionally a time of waiting,
expectation, and preparation. Expectation is what the Prophet Isaiah envisions
as he looks forward to the days when people from every nation will make their
way to Jerusalem where their journey finally ends as they “…climb the mountain of the Lord and arrive at
the house of the God of Jacob, where they learn his ways and walk in his paths”.
For many people today the Advent journey
consists of only going to the malls and wandering through a maze of stores and
kiosks. Any wonder at the real meaning of the season is lost in the busyness of
buying gifts and preparing for the “Holidays”. The sheer exhaustion from the
pace leaves little energy or time for any reflection on the profound meaning of
the Incarnation and the gift that we
are about to receive from God most high.
The words of the Prophet Isaiah invite us to
go on a journey this Advent. No, we don’t have to pack our bags and head off to
Jerusalem and climb Mount Zion, although that would be a wonderful experience. We
can stay right at home and be engaged in just as challenging an experience. We
can use this Season of Advent as a spiritual ascent, a time of reflection to
identify and resolve to overcome the obstacles that limit our growing closer to
Our Lord, surmounting the mountains if your will, that keep us from
experiencing the depth and totality of God’s love for us. The journey to
overcome the hurts and scars others have caused us and forgive them may be more
difficult than climbing the highest mountains. How very difficult is it for us
to change our mindsets and be opened to the ways of peace as Jesus taught
throughout His ministry.
Isaiah invites us to do just that in this
image he presents today of recasting spears into pruning hooks. Can we use this
holy time to seek forgiveness from those we have hurt or make peace within
ourselves, with our troubled consciences for all the wrongs we have done, and
all the hurts we have caused others? I doubt there is a more difficult uphill climb
than this: finding peace by yielding our thought and ways to the One who came
to dwell among us.
Enjoy the day,
Deacon Tom
Find this blog on the web at www.deacontomwrites.com
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