Dear Sisters and Brothers
Listening to the news at the moment can be so depressing. Everything seems to be collapsing around us; earthquakes, wars, revolutions, financial instability, sleaze in politics, corruption in the media, scandal in the Church. Where can we turn, who can we trust, on what firm ground can we build? St Paul offers some advice in our second reading at Mass today: “….while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed… (God) will keep you steady and without blame until the last day.”
Although we might consider ourselves to be sophisticated and thoroughly twenty-first-century-people, well versed in technology and able to interpret the signs of the times through the prism of scientific method, there is still a lot of primitive fear inside each one of us. I also believe that as the hours of daylight dwindle in the winter months and real darkness seems to dominate our world and rule our daily routine, these primitive feelings of fear, danger, and urgency increase. We need light, security, peace and freedom to move forward, but all these things seem to evade us. At least, that is how it can feel.
The gospel also seems to echo that sense of being overwhelmed. However, lest we should be tempted to give up the struggle and allow ourselves to be swept away on a flood of fear and confusion, Jesus warns us to “stay awake.” So insistent is he that this phrase is repeated four times. In my imagination I can hear his voice being raised a little louder each time leaving no doubt about what he was saying!
More overwhelming and frightening than the state of our present world, than nature’s ever-changing cycle and our primitive reactions to these, is recognising our own smallness, our own weakness and powerlessness. Even when it comes to choosing what is right and good, to discerning between sin and virtue, to embarking on the road that leads to light rather than darkness; even in these situations we discover so much fear and confusion inside us. Surely we can feel empathy with the cries of God’s people echoing down the centuries through the words of the Prophet Isaiah that we heard in our first reading today? “Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you…O that you would tear the heavens open and come down. We had long been rebels against you. We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind.”
And then come the words that bring light, security, peace and freedom: “And yet, Lord, you are our Father; we the clay, you the potter, we are all the work of your hand.” Knowing that God truly is our Father gives us light at the end of the tunnel. Despite the darkness, the confusion, the fear generated both in the world at large and our inner personal world, we know we are held and loved by our Father. Not only this, there is more; for we know that we are formed and made, re-formed and re-made by the loving hands of the Divine Potter. That is why we can echo St Paul’s words already quoted earlier: “….while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed (God) will keep you steady and without blame until the last day.”
With this knowledge and confidence we can make the prayers that we will pray during our Masses this Advent truly ours. We can have the light, security, peace and freedom to pray as God’s people: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming…may no earthly undertaking hinder those who have set out in haste to meet your Son….O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us we pray….that as the feast of our salvation draws nearer, we may press forward all the more eagerly. (Collects of Sundays of Advent 1,2,3 & Prayer after Communion of Advent Sunday 4)
In order to do all these things – run forth, set out in haste, await and press forward – we need guidance, help, and strength. So, my advice is that we listen carefully to the Word of God offered to us this Advent and we will be given guidance. Make our own the prayers we pray in the Mass this Advent and we will be given help. Use the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Forgiveness well this Advent and we will be given strength. In this way when he comes again in glory and majesty, and all is at last made manifest, we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which we now dare to hope. For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him, the Virgin Mary longed for him…John the Baptist sang of his coming and proclaimed his presence when he came. It is by his gift that already we rejoice at the mystery of his Nativity, so that he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise. (Prefaces of Advent 1 & 2)
May the Holy Spirit help us to persevere as we run through the darkness to meet Christ our true light and blessed hope.

+ Terence Patrick

Bishop of Middlesbrough