Today first reading is an Isaian poem about the return from the pains and other trials of the time the Jewish faithful were in exile. Read it slowly, read it carefully: it offers hope. For the wandering Jews, Isaiah offered the hope of reversal, bringing them out of Exile insult and humiliation. His words said that God was coming to help them. Soon they will see, the will experience "the glory of Yahweh, the splendor of our God."
After so many years away from Jerusalem, it would be easy to reject the words God was speaking to the Jews. Yet, he does not back down. "Courage. Do not be afraid." Isaiah had to say these words to them for Yahweh. He had to renew their hope. As we modern technologists, still waiting for the instant computer, realize waiting can be tedious, can be trying. Yet, if we look within, the ever-present become usual. It looses it speciality. We realize in our times that God is truly present in long, consuming waiting just as he is present in the change and its unexpected results. "Look, your God is coming ... to save you." "The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unsealed."
We can look back over centuries and hear words that are spoken to our own generation. As we find ourselves drawing ever closer to the birth of Jesus ... the true reason for our celebrating Christmas ... the words of Matthew may well have significance of you and me.
Contemporary men and women are overwhelmed by work, by personal problems, by family challenges ... perhaps even by disagreements with one's Church as well as financial burdens, by sickness etc. etc. etc. I might ask you: Do you really believe the words of Isaiah ... the same words Jesus used: "Courage! Do not be afraid." Do you accept these words as having meaning for yourself?
Do you truly believe that the birth of Jesus is the assertion that "your God is coming ... he is coming to save you?"
Are we strong enough to entrust everything in our lives to the hands of God? Are we sometimes fearful because we do believe that Jesus comes and speaks the truth? Are we afraid of surprises because genuine surprises require of most people some time to grow accustomed to? Perhaps genuine surprises are more challenging, require more time to feel comfortable than our accepting the message of Advent: Jesus is soon to be born.
Gaudete Sunday! Rejoice! Rejoice that we have been given this opportunity to partake of the Lord's blessings to us. Rejoice the we can learn from the early Jewish community and Isaiah's promise to them: God is coming in the person of Jesus Christ.
