Embrace God's word and live it

December 10, 2006 -- Second Sunday of Advent

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. How does the word of God come to you? 2. Is a word to the wise sufficient? 3. Comment on: "The irreversibility of the word, once it has been said, haunts many cultures and sensibilities" (George Steiner).

An Advent question: "Has the word of the Lord come to you?" After describing the various government leaders of Rome, Judea, Galilee, Ituraea, Trachonitis, and Abilene, the gospel of St. Luke proclaims: ". . . the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert" (Lk 3:2b). That word was one of God's mercy revealed in Jesus. It is difficult to imagine what must have happened in the mind and heart of John the Baptist when he comprehended the word that God spoke to him.

God continues to communicate with us. During Advent we are again invited to deepen our prayer life. We are to act on God's message and share it with others.

A d v e n t
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That same word (Word!) that came to John is offered to us in this 21^st century. Jesus is God's word; Jesus is the one spoken by the Father. And it is through Jesus, the child of Mary born in Bethlehem, that our sins are forgiven and the finality of death has been overcome. Advent is the liturgical season in which we are reminded time and time again that Jesus came, that Jesus is here in the present moment, and Jesus will come tomorrow and down through the ages.

The word of God came to St. Paul two thousand years ago. This apostle to the Gentiles was a good listener. Paul took God's word and shared it through his preaching and letter writing. The central message of Paul is the person of Jesus. To the Philippians, St. Paul writes of the righteousness that comes through Jesus. In Christ, our relationship with God has been healed. Thus, Paul prays that the Philippians might be given the grace of love, knowledge, and discernment in order that they too might complete the good work the Lord has given them to do.

The old saying, "A word to the wise" (Verbum satis sapienti), is sufficient. St. Paul was wise and he embraced God's word and lived it. No more need be said. Hopefully, during this Advent, we too will be wise in knowing that God's word is enough for us.

The word of God came to the prophet Baruch. And what was the word? "Glory!" In just nine verses, Baruch used the word "glory" five times. God was telling the prophet that the divine splendor and radiance is at hand. That radiance is made visible when the cloak of justice is worn by the people and the garments of mercy dress the soul. And where justice and mercy abound there will be joy and glory and exaltation.

It was the philosopher Martin Heidegger who said that the word is the "Dwelling-place of Being." Our Advent faith tells us that Jesus, who is the Word, is the dwelling-place of God's Being. If we see Jesus, we see the Father and the glory of the Holy Spirit.

"What might be lurking yonder in that mysterious and apparently impenetrable forest of words!" (John Neihardt) What is lurking behind and within the words of St. Luke, St. Paul, and Baruch, is the mystery of God and God's love for us. So extravagant was that love that it had to break forth in speech, indeed, in flesh. God's word has come to us, is coming, and will come again. Our Advent task is to "put ourselves in the way of the gift." If we do so, glory will once again break out in our land and valley will be filled, mountains and hill brought low, rough way made smooth, and the human heart will experience the salvation of God.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)