Letter from the Pastor
Second Week of Advent
December 10, 2023

We Await New Heavens and a New Earth

We know Advent is about waiting. It is also about hope. With everything going on in our world, and perhaps with everything going on in our own lives, doesn’t Isaiah’s words from the first reading resonate? “Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm.” Finally, someone to fix all this! God, come and help us!

We might wonder what’s taking Him so long. Doesn’t he see what we see? He does. Actually, God sees more than we see, and He sent Jesus … already. And we are still in a mess? What’s that about? Well, if God is the one who will save us, Jesus already came, and we’re still a mess, then the answer to our question must be … us. This mess is all about us and what we do or don’t do to bring about God’s Kingdom in our own lives and in our world.

Yes, God is omnipotent, but perhaps even God’s power is limited by a people who do not hear the message. [cf. MT 13:58]

This week I was reminded of a quote that I have in my office. A business consultant gave a gift to each member of the President’s Cabinet at St. Bonaventure University when his time with us ended. He gave me a framed quote of Mother Teresa that reads, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” I “googled” the quote and was led to a website I never heard of, Quotespedia.org. The site offered a wonderful reflection on Mother Teresa’s words. The author is not listed so I cannot offer my thanks for their great insights.

The author wrote, “In a world that often seems fragmented, the wisdom of Mother Teresa reminds us of our shared humanity.” It goes on to say that Mother Teresa “believed that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserved love, respect, and dignity. She did not discriminate based on religion, race, or social status but approached each person with an open heart and a willingness to embrace their humanity.”

“In our fast-paced and often judgmental society, it is all too easy to form opinions about others without taking the time to truly understand them. We often fall prey to preconceived notions and stereotypes, allowing them to cloud our perception of individuals who may be different from us. We judge based on appearances, beliefs, or even minor actions, failing to recognize the complexities and unique experiences that shape each person’s journey. …

It is easier to categorize and label people than to engage with them on a deeper level. But as Mother Teresa understood, love requires effort and understanding. It demands that we set aside our prejudices and preconceptions, to see the beauty and inherent worth in each person we encounter. …

Mother Teresa’s message does not suggest that we should ignore injustice or turn a blind eye to harmful behavior. It is a call to replace judgment with understanding, to approach others with curiosity rather than condemnation. Love, in this context, is not a passive sentiment but an active force that inspires us to seek justice, advocate for equality, and create positive change in the world. …

Practicing non-judgment and embracing love as a guiding principle requires a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones. It entails cultivating empathy by listening to others’ stories and striving to understand their perspectives. It involves challenging our own biases and assumptions, recognizing that our worldview may be limited and incomplete. It means treating others with kindness and respect, even when we disagree with them.”

Could you imagine what our world would be like if we could “love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us?” [MT 5:44] I think that is the key to the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Maybe that is what is holding us up from actually seeing that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Perhaps our waiting should not be passive, but active, as we prepare the way of the Lord, to hear the message anew, and with God’s grace, help cultivate a new heaven and a new earth.

May this Advent season truly be an adventure that leads us all closer to Christ.