2nd Sunday of Advent

           If you’re wondering why priests go to seminary for six to eight years, it is to read names like Ituraea and Trachonitis in public and at least sound like we know how to say them.

            As I reflect on our second reading, I can’t help but think of my experience in Africa.  Paul writes to the Philippians, a community far away from him, by stating, “I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.”  Every now and again it is good for a parish in northern Minnesota to remember that our faith goes beyond Duluth, Minnesota and the United States.  We have brothers and sisters—our faith family—spread throughout the world.  Right now churches in the US, Africa, South America and more celebrate the second Sunday of Advent and work in a true partnership to proclaim the Gospel.  It was an amazing experience to visit the faith communities in Ghana and recognize that our faith is one universally.

            Then there is Paul’s exhortation: “And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…”  As I visited Africa I first thought to myself, “These people have so little.”  Very few families—probably one in ten—have a car.  Eating meat is a treat for the average family.  Some communities just plugged into electricity and others still don’t have it.  And these aren’t cave people!  They are just like you and I living in a different world.  Yet just when I began to feel sorry for what these people don’t have, I saw that these people are truly happy.  As a culture, these Ghanaians were some of the most joyful, exuberant and laughing group of people I have met.  Perhaps it is we should feel sorry for ourselves.

            The temptation for Americans is to be distracted.  We are often so wrapped up in stuff—finances, possessions, sports and entertainment.  Yet the people who have nothing often have everything because they know what has true value in life—God and family.  Our African brothers and sisters provide a model of living for what is truly important and we do well to strive for detachment from the abundant blessings we have.

            I also was pleasantly surprised at the political situation in Ghana.  They recently voted for a president and none of the candidates there supported abortion—indeed, this atrocity is illegal.  They recognize the truth of marriage as a gift from God between a man and woman and were scandalized to think we vote on such truths in America.  The government and Church work together to support the people.  When the bishops teach, civil leaders listen and act.  I suspect that this is a result from discerning what is of true value—not personal opinions, subjective emotions or an individualistic life approach—but obedience to God and His Church.

            As we approach the coming of Christ as a man at Christmas, we do well to remember that Jesus was born, not in a castle into a well-to-do family, but in a stable.  We ought to become poor in spirit, as Christ was, to focus on inheriting the kingdom of heaven—not the kingdom of money, fame or power.  And here we can look up to our brothers and sisters in Africa.  And we should be generous to those without the material blessings we have.  Opportunities abound in our parish this Advent season in our Giving Tree, serving at CHUM and donating to the poor.  I will also be working on building connections to continue to support our Church family in Ghana.

            Please consider what is of true importance in your life this Advent season.  May we “be pure and blameless for the day of Christ”—Christmas—which is coming soon.