Isaiah 11: 1-10
Romans 15: 4-9
Matthew 3: 1-12

Harmony 

Advent is a time of preparation as we ready ourselves to once again celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world and into our lives at Christmas. The gospel for the second Sunday of Advent is a clear call to let God work in us, clearing space in our lives so Jesus can come close. John the Baptist tells those around him to repent and live in a way that shows real change. 

Advent is also a time of waiting. We wait once again for the coming of Jesus at our celebration of Christmas, the great reminder that Jesus became incarnate to share human life with us. In our waiting we are to renew ourselves to be ready for Jesus’ coming. The Gospel Acclamation reminds us to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” We are to contribute in very concrete ways to make our world a better place, a place where we value each other and all of God’s creation.

Paul’s Letter to the Romans states clearly how that is to happen. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

That last line bears repeating. “Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.” We are called to be open to and welcoming of everyone so that we may be one with Christ, and able to genuinely give glory to God.

Contrary to harmony, we experience our world as a place of war, racial discrimination, violence in thought, word and deed, political discord, and many other examples of divisiveness. A regular diet of TV and news print reports divisiveness that poisons our minds and tells us to accept these behaviors as normal. This human brokenness has been passed down for generations but never as blatant as in our own time. 

As people of faith, we should be aware of brokenness in our own lives and in the lives of others around us. Isaiah provides us with a symbolic image of what this harmony would be like if we are open to and accepting of everyone we meet. “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.” If even a small bit of this became real for us, we would be in harmony with others, animals and all of God’s creation.

Let’s make this Advent a special time for honest reflection to weed out any form of violence in thoughts, words or deeds that might be present in our lives. Eliminate the criticism, gossip about others, slurs about anyone different than we are, and any other behavior that causes divisiveness rather than harmony.

St. Angela Merici states the ideal for all of us.

…live in harmony, united together, all of one heart and one will. Be bound to one another, helping each other, bearing with each other in Christ Jesus. For if you strive to be like this, without any doubt, the Lord God will be in your midst. (Ninth Counsel)

What are some behaviors in your life that might be divisive?

In what ways can you foster harmony in your home, workplace and neighborhood?