Sermon Cloud

A few months ago, I participated in the annual national meeting of the National Federation of Priests' Councils. During this encounter, we discussed transitions and the effect they have on the church, on parishes, on individual priests and on parishioners.

Transitions are never easy to deal with. There are always at least two elements involved: we must bid farewell to a reality that was and we must prepare to welcome another reality that will be. While we are involved in the transition, there is always a bit of ambiguity and questions abound. Am I doing this the right way? Am I forgetting about something? How do I come to the realization that the past is gone? What must I face in the future? and the list goes on.

These questions are not unique to priesthood, nor to parish situations. They apply equally to children who are starting or changing schools, to adults who are beginning their first job, to those who must change occupations, to those who are retiring, to the widow(er) who has lost his or her loved one, to any myriad of situations. One thing is certain: life is full of change, and if we learn how to deal with it, and learn from it, we are all the better for it.

Today's gospel presents us with one of the figures who is key to the Advent story. John the Baptist, is not spoken of often in the gospels, but it is important that we pause to look at this scene with the eyes of faith. It seems that the only time he is mentioned is in anticipation of Jesus' public ministry. In a way, he was Jesus' public relations man. His preaching was meant to pave the way for Jesus' appearance on the scene.

I can't help thinking that the people who heard him might have thought that he was at least a bit strange. What could all this imagery mean? Paths being made straight ... valleys being filled in ... mountains being made low ... crooked made straight ... rough ways made smooth (Lk 3:4-5).

In modern-day language, John was telling them to prepare for change. For many of the Jewish people, this change was expected to be something joyous, a release from captivity and freedom from the Roman occupation. It had been foretold in the scriptures for generations. "Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, and put on the beauty of the glory of God" (Bar 5:1).

But the change that Jesus came to announce was directed toward the re-establishment of a personal encounter with the holy, with the creator, with Love itself. That's the thing about change; it brings about new realities which often are not planned for. There are often lots of surprises ... some good and some not so good, but if we keep the big picture in mind, the small bumps in the road are easier to deal with.

Each of us has something in our lives that needs to change. We all have things that we can do better, ways that we can be more attentive to God's presence in our lives, people that we haven't spoken to for many months, perhaps even years, unfinished projects, hopes and dreams that still need to be fulfilled. Perhaps this Advent is our opportunity to make the paths straight in the relationships which have gone astray, or to level the mountains of envy and pride and make peace with our neighbours. These changes are not always easy, but they are necessary if we truly believe that God has come among us to call us to unity with one another and with Him.

Let us pray with joy in every one of our prayers for one another ( Phil 1:4), that this week may be one of accepting change, building bridges and preparing well for the coming of our God.