December 17: Reflection for the Third Sunday in Advent

REJOICE ALWAYS. Pray without ceasing. How in the world can we do that?   

There are reasons to rejoice: Parishioners giving food and toys to so many needy people, my sister-in-law’s surgery went well; the refugee family we sponsor cleared another hurdle today, seeing 81 year old Sr. Gracie Miller, RSM dance with homeless folks AND her largest donors, and dining at Benuccis and shopping at one Word Goods with happy people supporting RAIHN.   

Some reasons to rejoice that we may take for granted: faith, family, friends, pure water, clean air, nutritious food, safe, affordable housing, sustainable energy, warm clothes and blankets, health care, education, music, art, beauty, choices, freedoms, love, church, literature.  Yet, even as we stop to say thank you and rejoice, we find reasons not to rejoice keep mounting: local homelessness is rising; some of our “leaders” sound and act like bullies, jobs are lost, health fails, wars near and far consume humans, energy, time, focus and money while the environment degrades and we lose sleep.    

The more reasons we have NOT to rejoice the more likely we are to pray without ceasing. Face it. When our hearts are heavy we moan and groan.  Even if the moaning is inaudible to those around us our every sob and tear is heard and felt by God who tells us in Romans the Spirit groans within us when we do not know how to pray.