December 7, 2008

Can the desert road ever be a “traveler friendly place?” The biblical poet thinks it can. It’s in the deserts of our lives that God finds us, and makes “highways” to lead us out. If you’ve ever had a “desert experience,” you know it’s nothing to sing about. It was probably one of the lowest points in your life. And it probably felt like it would never end. St. Peter tells us that God doesn’t “delay,” in keeping this promise to rescue us from disaster, though it can feel like that. Rather, there are subtle shades of sadness with which we must become familiar to have the proper “repentance,” or “attitude of soul.” Otherwise, we won’t recognize the Voice of Deliverance when it comes—and this is what is hinted at in the Gospel: John the Baptist, the Voice of Deliverance was so unexpected that he was largely ignored. This week’s “preparation” for the celebration of the “Light” of Christmas involves learning from our darkness, or better said, learning why we are in the dark, so that when the way to the Light appears we’ll know to follow it. Interesting ideas, no? Maybe we should be preparing for our penance service on December 15th.