2nd Sunday in Advent

St. Luke is very careful to give time, place, naming the various leaders, both
Roman and Jewish, because he wanted to situate what follows in actual
history. This event really took place; John, son of Zecheriah and Elizabeth,
was the herald preparing the way of the Lord, his very cousin “the Lamb of
God.” John fully lived his vocation to his martyrdom by calling people to
repentance, still today calling us; he was filled with the inspired words of the
prophet Isaiah and on fire as the Lord’s herald.

There is a great richness in all three readings with the psalm and this
presented a problem, if it really was a problem, to choose a topic for this
homily. However, a phrase kept standing out and so I share some thoughts
for your consideration and prayer.

This is the sentence: “...and mankind shall see the salvation of God.” We are
mankind, God’s sons and daughters - the words are about us and the
inspired word insists that you and I and others will definitely see God’s
salvation, notice: it does not say: at some future time!

A question: in your life, in mine have we seen God, have we seen His
salvation? Has He appeared to you, to me? I must admit that God has
appeared to me! However, before you judge me crazy, illusionary or maybe,
ready for canonization, I add, my brothers and sisters, to you also God has
appeared - more than once - more often than any of us realize. You might be
thinking to yourself at this moment: Where have I been? I’ve missed the
boat!

There is a hint, a wonderful clue about such an appearance given by St. Luke.
Mary and Joseph brought the infant to the temple and Simeon holding him
proclaimed,

“Now, Master, You can dismiss Your servant in peace for my
eyes have witnessed Your saving deed.” He saw an infant, a child like any
other but he saw more, not with his two eyes but with the eyes of his heart,
the eyes of faith. In a way, in an interior way God appeared to Simeon gifting
him with faith. He truly saw salvation, the Christ. Note that Simeon also said,

“...a light displayed for all the peoples to see.” Simeon’s proclamation is a
very important teaching, a revelation directed to us; we are “all the peoples”
he referred to. In this life God does not appear to us as He will in heaven
where we will see Him face to face but He does appear, our God makes His
presence known. God is Presence itself!
The Lord appears to us in His power, His goodness, His love. By the gift of
faith He gathers us to celebrate this Holy Mass; your faith, my faith is the
direct result of His hidden appearance, of His presence to you, to me. There
is no doubt about this! When we are moved to charity, compassion,
generosity, these acts are the e

ects of His hidden presence. We do not see
God, but, in a way, we see with faith His outstretched hand. This is no less
real than seeing God face to face - only di

erent...for now. We not only recall
but also experience the prophecy “...and mankind shall see the salvation of
God.” We are that ‘mankind’.

Shortly, we will look upon and receive the Lord in Holy Communion. The
Consecrated Host is lifted up and we see the Eucharistic Face of Jesus Christ,
the salvation “displayed for all the peoples.” Perhaps, a better word than
‘see’ is ‘perceive’; we perceive in our hearts through faith that the Lord
Himself is present, has come to you, to me, to this community - truly a
wonder and a very sacred reality, a very sacred encounter, certainly the most
sacred in this life.

The reading from the Prophet Baruch ended with:
“For God is leading Israel in joy

-let us change that-
For God is leading us in joy

by the light of His glory

with His mercy and justice for company.”

Lord, that we may see, perceive, know this because clearly it is Your will,
Your desire, delight of Your heart, Your relentless love for us. For we are
Yours and will be Yours always.