RBWords

     Earthly seasons come and go, and so do liturgical "seasons." One of them can color the way the other is celebrated.  In South America, Christmas comes in the Summer!!!  It's unusual to us North Americans to sing, "Dashing through the snow....." on a very hot day!   What complicates matters is that there are other "seasons" that can color the way we celebrate.  For our whole planet right now the "season of the pandemic" is taking over the secular as well as the spiritual meaning of Christmas!!  If ever there was a time for "comforting words" from God and one another, this Advent/Christmas "season" qualifies without doubt!  In the "desert" of COVID-19, we hear words about vaccines on the way.  Does our faith offer us more than the vaccines?

     Each of us is experiencing this pandemic desert in different ways.  The fear of illness, of losing our employment, of not being able to be with family and friends when we need them most - all of this cries out for comforting words AND actions.  The prophet Isaiah and the evangelist Mark remind us of the larger context of God's plan of salvation which can be expressed in the care we give for one another in our present "desert."  Christ is born in every comforting word and action we speak or do right now.  There are so many valleys and mountains right now that the task may seem impossible.  The news media remind us that all of us now know at least someone who has been made ill!  What comfort can we give them?

     In the nativity scene we place in our homes or yards, the past event of Jesus' birth, the present comfort in our pandemic desert, and the future hope that our "next normal" will come soon are represented!  This is the time to truly sing, "Come, oh come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel!"  AMEN