Word to the Wise
Friday, December 16, 2011 - 3rd Week of Advent - Fri
[Isa 56:1-3a, 6-8 and John 5:33-36,277]Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the Lord, "The Lord will surely exclude me from his people." The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants - all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer.....
In my travels to various parishes and retreat houses, I often see "Christmas creche" sets for sale that come from around the world! It is heartening to know that the birth of Christ is celebrated universally. At the same time, on a visit to Rio de Janeiro at this time last year, I also saw a lot of Santa Claus images of the kind that we would recognize here in the U.S.A. and could see how our culture has been "exported" to other lands! In a restaurant in Rio I heard "White Christmas" sung in Portuguese!
The birth of Christ is for all nations. Isaiah's welcoming words might have startled some of his listeners who believed that only the Chosen People could be subjects of God's favor! If God's house is a "house of prayer for all nations," the task of proclaiming the birth of Christ is global. If Santa Claus is coming to town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we have our evangelical work cut out for us! The figures of the shepherds (people of bad reputation in Jesus' day) and the Magi in the gospels of Luke and Matthew are a reminder that "tidings of comfort and joy" are meant for everyone. The proclamation to the shepherds is about "good news for all peoples." The familiar carol, Joy to the WORLD, should alert us to the task ahead. AMEN