Reflection, Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Isaiah 63:16b–17, 19b; 64:2; Mark 13:33–37

How may God want to move and work in our lives during Advent?
Today is the first day of Advent, and the beginning of the liturgical calonder . Some have stated Advent is like a “mini Lent”, a time of introspection, examination, purging and preparation.
As stated in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Advent "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to" is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas.”
Today, as we primarily look at our first reading, we see sobering but redeeming aspects of how Israel responded —and how we can respond —while in "exile".
During the hardest of times, the first confession that comes out of God’s people during their exile, and the confession that can come out of our hearts during this pandemic is: “You are our Father”. While the church undergoes some of the most difficult circumstances in recent memory, do we know and experience God as our Father...do we have this relationship established, and can we say from the depth of our hearts: “You are our Father”. Do we also know from the depth of our hearts and profess... ”You are our Redeemer” (who “works all things toward the good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose” )
During this time of pandemic, the church in her struggle says with Israel: “Return for the sake of your servants the tribes of your heritage”.
In this context, the tribes of Israel were under Babylonian exile, and experienced the desecration of their Temple. During this unpresisdented pandemic, we, also at times may feel undue pressure and injustice of governing authorities over our churches.
Our reading continues “why do you let us wonder, Oh Lord from your ways, and harden our hearts so we fear you not?” While under restriction from gathering and perhaps while questioning decisions, the Lord is looking into our hearts. He understands our plight, yet tests our love, and looks to see if our hearts have wandered.
Yet, as Isaiah confirms, what God especially looks for is a cry from our hearts: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down with the mountains quaking before you”, and to come with expectation and faith: “no ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him”. Another passage from Hebrews 11, vs 6 states, “without faith it is impossible to please him for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” Yet another passage from Jeremiah 33:3 states: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
During these current worldwide and national struggles, and during any other personal struggles we may be going through right now, God desires for us to be direct toward him in our prayers, and to expect him to do mighty things in our lives.
One of my favorite lines from a friend who had gone through many trials, and has since passed, goes like this: “don’t complain about the problem, but rejoice in the opportunity”. We may not like what we are going through in our particular circumstances, but what opportunities has God introduced to us in the middle of it? I would like to provide 3 perspectives and opportunities here for us to grasp on to.
#1.) One thing for sure, our Lord is using these circumstances in our lives to press in a little deeper, to remember our relationship with him and to watch him do mighty things in our lives. When everything seems to be going well, we often rest on our laurels, and coast through life without depending on God.

#2.) There is still opportunity to receive Jesus in the most holy Eucharist after attending Mass virtually. If not, we can make a spiritual communion before him in our homes. We can also zero in more on the liturgy of the Mass and focus on the prayers and the flow of the liturgy up close while viewing virtually.

#3.) We can seek out opportunities through Zoom or via phone calls to minister to those who are in need of a conversation or who may be experiencing loneliness. We can also join virtual Catholic groups who have studies or prayer times. Our RCIA group meets via Zoom which has worked quite well for our members.
As we look at the end of our first reading today, God’s people cry out, “Yet O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you are the potter: we are the work of your hands”
We, as with Israel in this prayer, are invited to entrust our lives to God, who knows what is best for us and who promises to fulfill in us the work of his hands.
As we begin this season of Advent may we be a people who are attentive to the Lord’s work of purging and cleansing in our hearts; and may we seek God as never before and watch him do new things in us and around us. As also seen in our gospel reading today, may we be watchful and alert to these promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the work he has cut out for us to serve and love one another in our parish and community.