Palm Sunday and Holy Week Reflection

Mt. Irenaeus Reflections for Palm Sunday and Holy Week 2010:

Voices from the Mountain and from the Valley

This year, Palm Sunday arrives at a time when many friends of Mt. Irenaeus feel the acute stab of grief at the passing of our beloved brother and friend, Dan Hurley, ofm. Perhaps it is a special blessing that we have the opportunity to grieve our loss during these prayerful days of Holy Week.

We invite you to join us in our remembering and in our contemplation. Let us pray together and teach one another as we walk the journey that leads to the cross and to the exquisite sweetness of Easter morning. Father Lou begins with a reflection rooted in the readings from the Palm Sunday liturgy. Having listened to Father Lou’s gentle teaching, several members of mountain Sojourners offer responses.

Reflections for Palm Sunday, 2010

Lou McCormack, ofm

The readings for Palm Sunday this year are from Isaiah (50:4-7), Paul’s letter to the Phillipians (2: 6-11), and from Luke’s account of the Passion of Jesus (22: 14 – 23: 56).

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday since the Gospel is the reading of the passion of Jesus) brings us to the end of our Lenten journey. It is also the threshold of the holiest week in the year for Christians.

Part of our share in the passion of Jesus this year is the absence of our brother Dan Hurley,ofm who died on March 13^th. Dan loved the meaning and memory of Holy Week; he will be with us in a powerful way this Holy Week.

Paul in the letter to the Phillipians encourages us to have the same mind in us that was in Jesus. That mind of Jesus is total self-giving as He became one of us for our salvation. Jesus is the love of God the Father poured out on the earth for all time.

In an attempt to help us enter into the mind of Christ, the evangelists - Luke this year - have told His story. It was their hope that believers could move beyond logic to understand the love that moved Jesus. It was the desire of the evangelists that readers put aside their objections and allow themselves to be taught by this great mystery.

In narrating Jesus’ passion, Luke brings his own insight by repeatedly affirming the Lord’s innocence. Only in Luke does the centurion declare that Jesus was an innocent man, does Pilate issue a triple verdict of “innocent” upon the falsely accused Jesus, and does the trial before Herod get mentioned when Jesus is again declared innocent. Luke shows us through these declarations of innocence that Jesus is the suffering servant of Isaiah who willingly suffered and died, but in the end was vindicated by God in the resurrection.

The passion of Jesus continues today in so many ways and people. We do not open ourselves again to hear the word to mainly engage in some form of sympathetic catharsis. We open ourselves to this living message of love and sacrifice and pain and dying and sin and unjustice so as to be changed by it, graced by it and moved by it to ease the ongoing suffering of the Body of Christ.

Let’s not just weep for Jesus on the way, but give ourselves over to those whose lives continue to be painful. We are called, like Simon of Cyrene, to help alleviate suffering by shouldering some of another person’s cross. Following Jesus means seeking solidarity with the suffering of others and working for their liberation.

Peace and Joy!

Sojourner Reflection for Palm Sunday, 2010

Mike Fenn offers the following memory of Father Dan Hurley:

“I had the great blessing of spending a good amount of time with Father Dan over the past twenty years and I carry many vivid memories in my heart. The one I recall most powerfully now, during our time of grieving, is from this past January when I was sharing evening prayer with him and the rest of the Friar community. Fr. Dan's eyesight had become very poor, yet his desire to open himself to God's word never diminished. There he sat with his glasses on, using a large magnifying glass and holding a psalm book as close to his face as he could. It was as if he was reading for the first time, not wanting to miss a word. Fr. Dan lived his life, as Fr Lou speaks above, listening to Gods message, constantly being changed by it, graced by it, and moved by it.”

Kate Nolan Clemens reflects on the power of service:

Lou's reflections help to focus my thinking and perspective around keeping others in mind and under our care. Jesus sacrificed His life for us... what can we do for others in our daily lives that might lessen the suffering of others? What can we do on a human level that might make even the smallest impact, possibly multiplied by doing it every day? Yesterday was Bona Responds Day. I spent a few hours with one of our sons at a soup kitchen/shelter. We had the humbling experience of witnessing - first-hand - the suffering of our fellow neighbors, the innocent -- so close, yet so very far away from what we know in our own lives. I'm thankful today for so much and glad for the inspiration of the Gospel and Lou's words that help to re-focus us.

Paul Kline responds:

Kate’s story teaches me that service, rooted in humility, can open my eyes and heart to God’s presence in those we are privileged to feed, clothe, and comfort. We are reminded by Father Lou that, as we approach the Gospel with an open heart, we experience a deeper awareness of Jesus’ love for us. Mike’s simple and beautiful story helps us to remember Father Dan Hurley as a man whose hunger to hear God’s voice could not be restrained by the limitations of age or infirmity. We see the humility of our friar-friend at evening prayer and, encouraged by his example and by Father Lou’s teaching, we open ourselves to the simple beauty and power of the stories of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We see Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a colt - an itinerant preacher with no home, no wealth, and no earthly power. We see Jesus bending low in love for his friends, tenderly washing their feet. We hear the voice of Jesus on the cross offering forgiveness to the criminal who dies next to him. Perhaps we, too, ache with hunger to hear God speak tender words of love and mercy to us? I pray that I am open to hear God’s voice in the words and actions of those I meet this week – and in those moments of silence and contemplation that Holy Week offers to me.

We welcome your voice!

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(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Feast of St. Francis

Brother Joe Kotula, OFM, and Paul Kline offer their thoughts about the Feast of St. Francis. You're invited to share your thoughts and reflections.

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READINGS

Sirach 50:1, 3-4, 6-7
The greatest among his brethren, the glory of his people, was SIMON the priest, son of Jochanan, in whose time the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was reinforced. In his time the reservoir was dug, the pool with a vastness like the sea's. He protected his people against brigands and strengthened his city against the enemy. Like a star shining among the clouds, like the full moon at the holyday season; Like the sun shining upon the temple, like the rainbow appearing in the cloudy sky.

Galatians 6:14-18
But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

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REFLECTIONS

By Brother Joe Kotula, OFM
St. Francis was a man who kept his eyes on the cross of Jesus Christ. The holy Bible was his road map and he had a strong desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and his life reflects that desire. When Francis was approaching his last days he said to his brothers: “I have done what was mine to do; may Christ teach you what you are to do.”

I feel confident that God teaches each of us what we are to do. However, we need to listen deeply to hear God’s call. St. Paul writes to the Galatians: “ All that matters is that one is created anew.” The Mountain mission statement is, “To join with Jesus Christ in making all things new!” How do you and I experience these bold statements? Are we created anew as we live and experience the Mountain culture? St. Francis was created anew as he journeyed through life focused on the cross of Jesus. I would suggest that being created anew is coming to understand that all of life is in God. When we recognize that, we, like Francis, will relate to everything as brothers and sister.

Imagine that!

The first reading beckons us to imagine the pool with the vastness of the sea, a star shining among the clouds, a full moon on a holyday season, the sun shining upon the temple, and a rainbow in the cloudy sky. St. Francis could imagine God’s total presence and so he knew that everything had the same creator as himself. Scripture call us to imagine the wonders of a loving creator.

Finally, Matthew's Gospel tells us “no one knows the Son, but the Father and no one knows the Father but the Son- and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” I would suggest that St. Francis knew the Father through Jesus and we, too, know God through Jesus.

Imagine that!

Can you accept that? Praise God! Seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened. Francis is a model who showed us how loving Jesus reveals God and affects our daily walk. So, as we celebrate the feast of St. Francis may we, too, hear his words ring in our hearts: “I have done what was mine to do; may Christ teach you what you are to do.”

Trust and be not afraid for God has promised so much and God keeps his/her promises.

By Paul Kline
My favorite experiences at the Mountain are morning and evening prayer in Holy Peace Chapel. The serenity of praying with others while, at the same time, being drawn deeper into my own, interior conversation with God helps me to lower my guard and open my heart. During our Franciscan Sojourner weekends, in that most peaceful place, Gospel stories, stories connected with the Franciscan tradition, and stories from our own travels have come alive offering new discoveries about who God is calling us to become as His sons and daughters and how, as a community travelling together, can best serve others.

The feast of Francis provides an opportunity to wonder how we might learn from the remarkable story of his spiritual journey. For me, it is a journey that brought Francis deeper and deeper into radical humility. His journey reveals the freedom and grace that await us when we let go of our attachments to familiar ways of thinking and patterns of living that fail to bring us closer to God’s heart.

Ilia Delio writes that Bonaventure understood humility to be "a self-knowledge grounded in truth, patience with others, simplicity of life, attentive listening to others, courage to overcome temptations, and a compassionate heart." Through humility, we celebrate the holiness of all creation and open ourselves to be shaped by the wisdom and grace present in the insignificant moments of our day. Through humility, the least among us become our greatest teachers.

Humility, I think, helps us to re-focus our eyes and attune our ears to quiet sources of grace where wisdom speaks in a gentle whisper. Francis’ encounters with others and with the world around him powerfully reveal to me a passionate wish, even longing, to meet Jesus in every twist and turn in the road he travelled. He enjoyed, I think, an authentic zeal for experiencing the specialness of each living creature. Falling in love with every unique expression of God’s creation – people, animals, and nature - was also a way of falling in love with God, over and over and over again.

As each new day dawns, we, too, are invited, again and again, to enter into this love story.

(To share your thoughts, post a comment below on the Mountain's blog or on the Mountain's Facebook Page.)

(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Christmas Reflection

Br. Joe Kotula, OFM, and Denise Null offer their thoughts about Christmas. Please share your thoughts and reflections, too.

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Christmas Day Readings

Isaiah 52: 7-10
Hebrews 1: 1-6
Gospel of John 1: 1 18


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By Br. Joe Kotula, OFM

The readings for Christmas Day seem to move us from the story of a child being born for us to the deep message of the incarnation. God became man and the gospel writer points out that those who accept him, Jesus the Christ, he gave power to become children of God. As children of God, we know that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

This Christmas there is much darkness in our world. There are wars, famines, global recession, oppression, child abuse, and many other forms of violence, yet as children of God we know there is a great light. We are called to give witness to that light. Scripture tells us that we are the body of Christ, so we must be that light. Truly a mystery. All things came to be through Jesus, and without Jesus nothing came to be. We are intimately connected in this mystery to one another and to God and God taught us that on Christmas Day. It seems to me that we can be bright lights when we live with faith, hope and love.

I want to end my reflection with a meditation from a book written by Megan McKenna.

The One who holds all creation in the hollow of a hand

is born today of a virgin.

The One who hung the earth upon the waters

is hung today upon the Cross.

The One whose essence none can touch

is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a mortal.

The One who rules the angles

is crowned today with thorns.

God, who in the beginning created the heavens,

lies now in a manger.

God, who wraps the heavens in clouds,

is wrapped in mocking purple.

The One who rained manna down on the people in the wilderness

is fed on milk from a Mother's breast.

The One who set Eve and Adam free in the Jordan

is slapped in the face.

Today the Church's Spouse calls forth the magi.

Today the Church's Spouse is nailed the cross.

The Virgin's child accepts their gifts.

The Virgin's Child is pierced with a spear.

We worship your nativity, O Christ!

We worship your passion, O Christ!

Show us your glorious Theophany!

Show us, too, your glorious Resurrection.

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By Denise Null

As the most magical day of the year approaches, we find ourselves amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations – shopping, decorating, gathering with friends and attending children’s festivities. We have also been preparing our hearts during advent as we watchfully wait for the birth of Christ. There is excitement and anticipation everywhere! The magic of Christmas can have many meanings. What makes Christmas magical for you? Family traditions, Mass on Christmas Eve, the joy of giving, witnessing the wonderment through children, gathering with loved ones, laughter, baking cookies or the white elephant gift exchange. In our house “Christmas magic” is a common answer for those tough Santa questions!!

The best Christmas magic is God’s great love for us. Love is about sacrifice, giving without expectations and selflessness. God made a huge choice when he sent Jesus into the world. I can’t imagine how hard it was to allow Jesus to be born when he knew he would be crucified thirty something years later. What a gift of love, what an act of love. What a privilege to know this God, to have him dwelling in us to be our source of strength! The best thing about this Christmas magic is that we can have access to it year round.

In closing, I thought I would share “The Story of the Candy Cane”

There was a time, during the later part of the eighteenth century in England, when all religious symbols were banned from public display. During this time, there was a dedicated Christian candy maker who set out to find some way for members of the Christian family to identify each other, in spite of the ban. He began with a piece of pure white candy to signify the purity and holiness of Jesus Christ. Next, he fashioned the candy into the shape of a shepherd’s staff as a reminder that our Heavenly Father is the Good Shepherd. Then he places three small red stripes around the candy to represent the encompassing power and presence of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Finally he placed a single bold red stripe through the candy to demonstrate the redeeming power of the blood that Christ shed upon the cross for each of us and the forgiveness of our sins.

Taste and see the wonderful truth of Christmas.

“I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people; today in the city of David there has been born, a Savior, who is Jesus Christ the Lord.” He brings forgiveness…cleansing…new life…an eternal home. “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” PS 34:3

Merry Christmas to you and blessings in 2009!


(Post a comment below to share your thoughts.)

(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Beginning of Advent Reflection

Chris Novak and Br. Kevin Kriso, OFM, offer their thoughts for the beginning of Advent. Please share your thoughts and reflections.

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Reading 1
Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands


Gospel
Mk 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

By Chris Novak
As the Advent season begins, several ideas and themes come to mind. The readings for the first Sunday of Advent tell us this is a season of waiting and preparing for the birth of Christ. However, simply doing those things isn’t enough. Christ calls us to actively wait and prepare. One of the biggest teachings He gave us was to love one another as we love ourselves. Although we should remember that all year, it seems to be more prevalent during this time of year. Actively waiting and prepares asks us to follow Christ’s example and live our lives for others. I have learned this from watching what my mother does every year at this time.

My mother participates in a community toy drive through a charity organization. Parents of families in low income areas in our community write Christmas letters to the organization, listing items they want to give to their children, but simply cannot afford them. Other people in the community choose one of lists and purchase the items for the children. The parent who wrote the list will receive the items just before Christmas Day and will have gifts to give their children.

We often talk about this time of year being full of commercialism and materialism, and doing something like this can easily fall into those trends. However, looking at the motivation behind the actions can reveal the true meaning of it. I’ve been fortunate enough to always have presents under the tree on Christmas morning. But from what I learned from my parents, the act of giving a gift is more than just getting me something I asked for. It’s about the joy of giving someone a loving and accepting feeling. My mother knows this feeling. When she participates in this program every year, she knows what it’s like as a mother to give her children that feeling and wants other mothers and fathers to experience that feeling too.

Based on her example, I also participated in this program. As an officer in a high school club a few years ago, I suggested we choose a list. Each member of the club was responsible for buying one item on the list and we donated all of them as a group. It made me realize the importance of giving others something I had: the support of a family who could provide for me.

During Advent, we are asked to prepare for Christ’s birth. It’s a good chance for us to examine what we have and what we can give to others. As we prepare, we need to recognize the reason behind our preparing. For me, it’s to more closely follow Christ’s example. His birth marked the beginning of the life we as Christians want to live. Christ lived his life giving to others. Maybe that’s why we give gifts to those we love today. And although material items are fun to give, let’s think about the feelings we want others to have from receiving the gifts we give them.


By Br. Kevin Kriso, OFM
The readings for this First Sunday of Advent also speak to me about active waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. Isaiah writes, “Would that you might meet us doing right.” And in the Gospel Jesus says “May he not come suddenly and find you asleep.” In other words they are warning us, “Be ready!”

This reminds me of a bumper sticker that was popular years ago. It said, “Jesus is coming soon. Look busy!” For those of us who sometimes slack off in our spiritual lives and practices, it was a funny way for us to get back on track and “get with it!” It is nice to think we will be caught in the act of “doing good” when the day of the Lord arrives. However, with my luck I will be caught reading some silly book and eating potato chips and bacon horseradish dip. But wouldn’t being in a state of “red alert” at all times be exhausting? I mean, we do need to sleep every once in a while.

What is the answer? I think a good metaphor would be that of a good host or hostess. All of us have seen people who seem to effortlessly provide wonderful hospitality. They are always prepared for whatever might happen. This person does not seem to get stressed out that things may or may not turn out right. He or she does not get self-conscious. They focus not on themselves but on meeting the needs of others and genuinely enjoy seeing other people having a good time. They don’t get tired out by their efforts. And if anyone compliments them on their actions, they honestly don’t see that they are doing anything special. For them being hospitable is not the exception in how they live their lives, but the norm.

As Chris described his mom and her quiet witness, I can’t help but think she is one of those people who “gets it.” Going shopping for a poor family is not exhausting for her but fun. She probably can picture in her mind’s eye small children really getting the feeling that they “count” and are loved. Others around her can’t help but catch the spirit. They want to be part of it too. Who knows, maybe on the day of the Lord’s coming Chris’ mom will actually get caught in a department store filling a shopping cart with clothing and toys. And Jesus will smile.

Advent is in its own way a hospitality course. It has many lessons for us. Be ready. Do right. Be prepared. Have fun enjoying others enjoying themselves. Be glad that God used you as a tool to make good things happen for others. Advent also reminds me of a quote from the George Michael song “Praying for Time” in which he chastises those for whom “charity is a coat you wear twice a year.” When charity is a way of life, it is not tiring. It is uplifting. That is why the happiest and holiest people are not those who think less of themselves, but those who think of themselves less.

(Post a comment below to share your thoughts.)

(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)

Advent Reflection

In the midst of Advent as we prepare for the time of Christ’s arrival, Br. Joe Kotula, OFM, and Holly Schubert offer us the gift of their reflections on reading from this 2nd Sunday of Advent.

If you haven’t met Holly, she is a Bonaventure grad who spent two years living in community with the Mountain Friars. She continues her service as a youth minister in western Pennsylvania. As always please feel free to share your thoughts after reading Br. Joe and Holly’s reflection.

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Reading 1

Is 11:1-10

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

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Reading 2

Rom 15:4-9

Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction,
that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to think in harmony with one another,
in keeping with Christ Jesus,
that with one accord you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
to show God’s truthfulness,
to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.

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Gospel

Mt 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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By Joseph Kotula, OFM

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ. However, Christ has already come a long time ago. So what are we waiting for? It seems to me that we need to be reflecting on how the Christ event of 2000 years ago affects our daily life today.

The Isaiah reading speaks to us about a great hope, the calf and the lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them; the baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on my holy mountain, for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord. Are our hearts open enough to believe, in this violent and painful world, that this is God's promise?

The second reading calls us to persevere in our belief. St. Paul also commands us to “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” We can love because God first loved us. Who do we welcome in our daily lives?

Finally, John the Baptist calls us to repent and turn back to God. It seems to me he is calling us to reflect on our lives and see if we are producing good fruit. What is good fruit? The scriptures would tells us to be forgiving, caring, sharing, thankful, grateful, loving people and when we relate to all of creation in that manner we will produce good fruit.

The Mountain model of remember, reflect and respond can help us to see where we have turned away from God and how we can turn back to God. So as God loved us we might love others and experience the profound reality of Christmas.

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By Holly Schubert

What a powerful image of hope is in the first reading from Isaiah – the stump of Jesse becoming a shoot of new life.

A stump is a tree that is no more. It is something that is dead, gone. But out of what seems to be this absence of life, new life comes. Nature has a great way of expressing something important about who God is, just by acting out its own normal processes of life. What seemed dead and lifeless was the lineage of King David, and the new life and hope that came out of that ancestry was Jesus Christ, the ultimate expression of life overcoming death.

I see hope and repentance as deeply connected here in these passages. Repentance and hope are both a desire or longing for something better than the way things are right now. You might say repentance is hope. I realized I often think of repentance as feeling bad about something, but seeing this connection has helped me to see it differently.

I find myself wondering why so many people flocked to see John the Baptist in the wilderness. I wonder what the appeal was, what drew so many people to him. In a different passage of scripture we hear that some of them may have come because of the spectacle – they wanted to see a good show. But surely a good many of them must have been drawn by that opportunity for repentance – for that longing for things to be different inside of them, in their lives, for that hope that things could be other than the way they were.

The passage of the ax at the tree and the fire burning up the chaff is often seen as a hardcore judgmental passage – that those who don’t measure up are viciously done away with. But I see this passage differently. I see the ax chopping away dead parts of our selves that are no longer productive, I see the chaff as parts of ourselves we want to get rid of and the burning as a welcome, cleansing change. When I long for that change and welcome it, it is repentance, and it’s hopeful.

Advent is a season of hope. It is a longing and a preparation for the light that is coming into the world. We prepare for the coming of that light by realizing that we need it, that we long for it. We want something different – we repent, turn away from, the way things are, looking for something new. We hope for it. And we hope in confidence because we know of God’s goodness, because we know where the story is going, because we know of the child that is coming and the light that He brings.

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(Mt. Irenaeus Web Site)