Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb…
the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.
Isaiah 11:6
This time of year reminds me of the story of a father who spies his 5 year old daughter standing next to his infant son’s crib. As the father stands quietly and unnoticed in the doorway he hears the girl whisper to her baby brother, “Billy remind me where we came from, I’m beginning to forget
.”
Today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah foretells
the birth of the Christ-child. This child, born 2000 years ago reminds us not only from where we come but to where we are going. Isaiah goes on to describe the Christ-child’s kingdom as God’s holy mountain; a place of radical hope and peace.
The church calls us to look for signs of and participate in the fulfillment of this’ kingdom. You will see signs of this all around you; if you know where to look. They can be seen in the youth who serve at St. Mary’s in peer leadership, music ministry, altar servers and care kitchen, to name a few. They can be found in those who serve the community either through school or civic organizations. The spirit of these young people is energizing. As the girl in the opening story suggests; they remind us from where we come.
This child-like enthusiasm is not limited to children. Ministry happens because of the work of people of all ages. The challenge is for each of us to add our voices to the one Matthew describes as “a voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord.”
In January St. Mary’s will be forming a social concerns team. We will be looking for ways that we can actively work toward the building of Christ’s kingdom here in Nutley and beyond.
As you hear and sing Isaiah’s words in today’s offertory song (found on page 6 of the advent booklet) please consider reaching out to me via e-mail or at the parish center to be part of thissocial concerns effort.
Bruce
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