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2nd Sunday in Advent Lk 3/1-6 |
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| Background: I often wonder whether the liturgists who choose readings for us ever preach on Sunday. If they do, how could they impose on us the obligation of thinking of something new to say every time John the Baptist shows up. John was an important figure in the time of the Gospels because his followers opposed the followers of Jesus. They disappered a long time ago. Anyway, the Gospel today clearly deals with new beginnings, the special intervention of God in the human condition through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The world seemed to be the same after Jesus went home to the Father in Heaven. But it had in fact been changed dramatically. There was now a new creation, a new convenant, a new kingdom, a new humanity. We are part of it because it is our mission to reveal God's forgiving love by our own forgiveness. In the Lord's Prayer we do not claim to have won forgivness by forgiving others. Forgiveness cannot be earned. Rather we promise we will reveal God's forgiveness to others by our own willingness to forgive. |
read the padre |
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Story: Once upon a time there was a high school football star who was an all state quarterback. He had a brilliant career ahead of him in college and the pros. On the last play of the last game of his senior year with his team ahead by three touchdowns, he took the ball from center, and knelt down to run out the clock. A linebacker on the other team jumped on him and crushed him to the ground. The quarter back's leg was broken in three places. The linebacker was not sorry for what he did. The kid had a big head, he told reporters. He deserved to be taken down a peg or two. He got what he deserved. The quarterback never played football again. The linebacker was a great success in college and pro football. The media and the public, however, never liked him. They would not let him forget his cheap shot in that final high school game. He refused to say he was sorry or apologize. Finally when he retired from professional football, the media went to the former quarter back who was now a famous and successful doctor. Do you forgive him they asked? Of course I forgive him, the doctor replied. What is the point in holding a grudge. I hope some day he can forgive himself. |
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