Word to the Wise
Saturday, December 5, 2015 - 1st Week of Advent - Sat
[Isa 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8,]The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your teacher, while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it."
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015 SATURDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
[Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 and Matthew 9:35 -10:1. 5a, 6-8]
The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your teacher, while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it."
One of the "pillars" of Dominican life is STUDY. I share this pillar with those who attend my retreats and parish missions. I frame it in terms of a question: HOW AM I LEARNING? Too many people associate study and learning with school experiences and an overly intellectual approach to life and give up on intentional learning about any subject, let alone the Catholic faith, which is a very broad and rich tradition. They settle for sacraments and devotions without any understanding of what it all means. This may well be sufficient in some cases, but the truth about Jesus and God's plan of salvation challenges us all as baptized persons to learn more.
Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew today speak of a "teacher." Jesus taught in the synagogues and in the temple (when he went to Jerusalem). The Sermon on the Mount is a wonderful summary of his teachings. The parables are an example of his method of teaching. If we wish to be disciples, we have to be his students as well.
What do we know about Advent and the beginning of the liturgical year? Is it only a change of color in the vestments, a wreath with candles and the endless, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?" Why does the church do any of these things? What is the meaning of all these prophecies from Isaiah and why do we look to them for understanding the meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ? These are but a few questions of the kind that we could learn from as intentional disciples. There is much that is rewarding in this season if we make a little effort. AMEN
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