Fourth Sunday in Advent [B]

Readings
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Calendar
December 18: Winter Solstice
December 18: International Migrants Day
December 25: Christmas

Quotes
We must make haste. Too many people are suffering. While some make progress, others stand still or move backwards; and the gap between them is widening.
Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio

We must repeat that the superfluous goods of wealthier nations ought to be placed at the disposal of poorer nations. . . . If prosperous nations continue to be jealous of their own advantage alone, they will jeopardize their highest values, sacrificing the pursuit of excellence to the acquisition of possessions.
Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio

We cherish this hope: that distrust and selfishness among nations will eventually be overcome by a stronger desire for mutual collaboration and a heightened sense of solidarity.
Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio

Genuine progress does not consist in wealth sought for personal comfort or for its own sake; rather it consists in an economic order designed for the welfare of the human person, where the daily bread that each person receives reflects the glow of love and the helping hand of God.
Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio

Thoughts for Your Consideration
In our contemporary culture, there is a strong tendency to anticipate Christmas í¢â‚¬" to rush into the celebration before its time í¢â‚¬" to celebrate before the day í¢â‚¬" to force a celebration that is not yet ready í¢â‚¬" to force people to feel good.

Sometimes, we can be tempted to "shorten Advent" or even to skip it all together. Yet, we need Advent. We need to take time to be aware of our great needs and our great longing for something more. We need to honestly look at the world and its problems. We need to be aware of people and their struggles. Otherwise our hope is not real. Advent is about hope í¢â‚¬" a Messianic hope í¢â‚¬" a hope for something more.

If we are not in touch with the real needs that we have, we cannot be in touch with the joy and hope of God's salvation. We need to recognize the real needs of real people, especially the poor. More than ever, we need justice for the poor, human rights for all, an end to violence, a reform of governmental priorities, an end to war, and educational opportunity for all our children.

War and acts of terror pop up all over the world. Many nations of the world are hopeless paralyzed by international debt. Income inequality and food insecurity are prevalent among so many people. So many things are still not fair. Too many children are still not getting what they need to be full and complete human beings. The environment is still not respected.

In the book of Samuel, God promises something more than a fancy temple or new church. God wants to create something new for the people. "I will fix a place for my people."

God wants to do something new. The promise is made real in the gospel story of an angel speaking to a poor young woman and promising a savior who will finally "rule" over the people and lead them to something new. "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." God's reign will transcend our limited personal perspective and consumerism and bring together the whole world in a new kind of justice and peace.

The scripture today speaks to our human situation and reminds us that God wants to create something new in the midst of all the injustice, violence, confusion, and terror. God wants to create a reign of justice, peace, simplicity, and hope. We are invited to make God's reign real.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
What are the things in our world that make it difficult for you to have hope?

Who/what are some people and events that give you hope?

Actions - Links

International Migrants Day is December 18, 2005. Find info at http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/events/migrants/. A quote on the site reads:

"December 18 is a day when the international community recognizes the rights of migrants around the world. The UN General Assembly approved the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on December 18, 1990, and the day was officially designated International Migrants Day by the United Nations in 2000."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has an Office of Migration and Refugee Services, where documents by the Bishops and resources are available on these issues. Go to http://www.usccb.org/mrs/

Education for Justice also has a section of resources connecting Catholic Social Teaching and Migrant issues. See http://www.coc.org/ej/justice/topics.html?ID=9088.

Prayer - Meditation
CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, web site has a set of prayers for advent that can be found at: http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/prayers/church_calendar/prayers_for_advent . For example:

God of our longing
hear our prayers,
protect our dreams,
and listen to our silent hopes.

Deal gently with our pain,
speak to our sadness
and remove the barriers
that imprison our spirit.

Shed your light
where shadows are cast,
that we may feel your warmth
and know your presence.

Give us courage
to hold fast to our vision
that we may build our world
and create our future.