A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah clearly identifies a Holy Way or highway for God’s people where no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. How do we recognize and develop this Holy Way for our lives during this Advent season? Is there a way of taking responsibility to create hope, peace, love, and joy?
Our present world exists not only in a state of flux and hostility, but also with an inherent direction toward absolute love in Christ. The direction opens the door for communal growth in love.
Growth itself requires the capacity to wonder, suffer, and to be part of everything that is in constant flux. That is a scary proposition. The purpose of the Incarnation of Jesus the Christ was to show us how to live in a way which often times feels scary. Jesus did not come to deliver us from any of our experiences, but to show us how to live with grace and humility in every circumstance that we encounter.
The miracle of the Incarnation is that the promises of the prophets of hope, peace, love and joy are waiting for each of us every day. Through his life, Christ left us with his masterful blueprint of how to bring about these promises. Waiting around for Jesus to return and do the work that he gave us to do will never bring about the fulfillment of the prophets’ promises.
Jesus passed on his work and the work of the prophets to us when he said, “A new commandment I give to YOU, that YOU love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) As followers of Christ, WE are now the responsible implementers of hope, peace, love, and joy.
Being an implementer can be a daunting task, even when seen through the life of Christ. Jesus never attempted to overthrow the Roman government or the Jewish temple system. Such actions would never get to the bottom of changing hearts and creating hope, peace, love, and joy. Jesus used small, incremental steps as an example in bringing about a new world. He dealt with real people, in real life circumstances, addressing needs with personal involvement. We might be advised to do the same.
If you wish to see hope, peace, love, and joy in your life and the lives of others, I offer the following suggestions:
First, throw away your premade plans. The world, if not life itself, is going to scuttle them anyway.
Second, always, always, ALWAYS begin in silence and prayer as Jesus did. Jesus did a LOT of contemplative prayer sitting in SILENCE. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Third, speak to EVERYONE you encounter striving to see only the Christ in that person. That is a difficult task. Remember that Christ dwells in every person, whether you like that person or not.
Fourth, spend time in nonjudgmental LISTENING. Listen to others as Christ spends time listening to you. Listen more than speak! Everyone needs to be heard. Feeling heard as Christ hears us has the power to change the world. The act of listening nudges us toward seeing the fulfilment of the promises of hope, peace, love, and joy.
Remember that if you mess up in trying to implement the above suggestions, do not worry. The Incarnation has within it a proclamation of Grace. You are forgiven – now and forever. Your work and attempts are not in vain. You are a revered part of a universe that is unfolding and heading toward never-ending love in God.
In the remaining weeks of Advent, take time to reflect with new eyes on the incredible Christ of the Incarnation which allows you and me to actually bring about the promises of hope, peace, love, and joy.
Prayer and continued Blessings in this most holy season of Advent.
Fr. John
