Advent 2: Lush Life
Author: Andrew Comiskey
December 08, 2024
Weird
reunion. Annette’s older ‘gay’-identified brother John, unraveling in San
Francisco, needed family. His friends had died or given up on him. We met John
there to prepare him to move closer to us.
Easier
for me than for Annette. She had endured his instability all her life. We mobilized
together to dignify John’s last days.
The
sign on a nearby parish read ‘Welcome Home!’ A new Catholic, I ducked into the
sanctuary as often as I could. It enfolded me. The altar, surrounded by fir
trees emerging from a bed of poinsettias, centered and cheered me.
A few
like me lingered there; a priest agreed to receive my confession about ragged
love for John and resentment for the toll he took on Annette. Mercy sprung from
forgiveness.
This
week’s reading from Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:4-11, and Baruch 5:1-9 describe
the lush life I found that Advent in San Francisco: ‘Take off your robe of
mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever’ (Bar. 5:1).
Advent
highlights the soon-coming King who comes again to us—ever constant but
altogether new. Our need for Him shifts. The valleys and mountains Annette and
I faced that year are not today’s. Jesus knows this. So, He comes again to save
us. Difficulties we face with those we love most reveal the limits of love: our
need to be saved, over and over.
John
the Baptist’s preaching––‘Every valley will be filled in, every mountain leveled!’
(Lk 3:5)––could not be more timely. He fills cavities and woos us out of thick
defenses. He restores our souls; He will complete the good work He started in
us (Phil. 1:6).
‘All
of life is Advent,’ declares Fr. Alfred Delp, and I agree. Dull hearts require
bigger ‘welcome home’ signs, more poinsettias, trees that sparkle, and plaster
angels who sing. We need constant reminders that He is coming, has come, and
will come again. All heaven and earth pray for His unseen reality to be
manifest. Again.
To be
manifest to our dull hearts and to the divided ones we love most who have made
a mess of their lives and are prime targets for Jesus’ Advent. Enfolded by Love
Himself, how can we not be emboldened by Isaiah and Baruch’s prophecies and
make them our prayers for lost loved ones?
‘Give
them up! Hold not back! Bring back My sons from afar, My daughters from the
ends of the earth: Everyone who is formed as Mine, whom I created for My glory’
(Is. 43:5-7); ‘Up, Jerusalem! Stand upon the heights; look to the east and see
your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One,
rejoicing that they are remembered by God’ (Bar. 5:4).
Relish
this lush season of expectancy. May every carol and ornament invite radiant
hope in the One who promises: ‘Every knee shall bow before Him, all flesh will
see the salvation of God’ (Phil. 2:10; Lk 3:6).
Join
Andrew on Desert Streaming each week as he dives deeper into his blog. Watch
here or listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
BACK