Church of the
Annunciation

We believe that God communicates with us – a God who reveals the divine mystery and purpose of life. God sends us messengers. The prophet Baruck (1^st reading) is a poet who, speaking for God, bids the Jewish people to look to the east for a manifestation of God’s concern and compassion for his people. Paul, incarcerated in prison, writes a letter to the Philippians (2^nd reading) encouraging them in his absence to abound in love more and more anticipation Christ’s coming. In the Gospel according to Luke we hear the urgent cry of the prophet John calling listeners at the Jordan River to repentance and conversion as they prepare for the coming Messiah. Catholic Christians believe that God speaks most eloquently in Jesus Christ – the Word.

My sister Linda has just become “a follower.” She connected to or tagged Pope Benedict’s new twitters cite and, on Wednesday December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, she will receive the first of Pope Benedict’s daily tweets! I am sure the Pope will tweet on the deeper meaning of the season of Advent and Christmas. God communicates using words but also signs.  Today is the 2^nd Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the Jewish feast of Hanukkah. Jews will light the first candle on the menorah recalling the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. Catholics will light the second candle in the Advent wreath to welcome the coming of Christ. “Lighting a candle” is a sign of hope. It expresses our common faith that God is with us as we face the challenges and difficulties confronting our world. The prophet Isaiah foresees the Jewish people becoming a light to the nations. Jesus calls his disciples to become a light that dispels darkness. Personally and communally may we become a light for others during the second week of Advent and the 8 day celebration of Hanukkah.