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 b.mauro1@yahoo.com or at the
parish center to be part of this social concerns effort.
Grateful
to be in ministry at St. Mary’s,
Bruce
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