2nd Sunday of Advent - Fr. Leo
“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.” (Rom. 15)
Paul encourages us. To think in harmony with one another, and praise God with one voice. If that were to happen in today’s world? It is hard to know since in every direction we look, we find divisiveness. Politics is rife with it. Even Pope Frances in his latest letter, states that there should be no divisiveness in the Church.
How can we move towards unity, called for by Christ? One of the first things we would need is to be able to listen. I mean truly listen. If something strikes us as wrong, we need to listen deeper and find the kernel of truth that is in another persons experience. Only when we can truly understand others, can there be any hope of unity.
I don’t think that humans are so different. We have one Creator. All people regard family, well being, and a peaceful existence with others. Division happens when there is pain and when someone feels they are being slighted. This also applies to peoples and nations as well. There are cultural differences that cause legitimate issues. In Iran, we are seeing justice being sought by women who are risking their lives to be treated with dignity. We will inevitably have friction with countries who see women as the property of men.
But, is there a more solid ground we can stand on that is common to all? We need to look for those grounds. It is so obvious when there is tension between Christian countries like Russia and the Ukraine. How can men who profess a belief in Christ raise arms against others who share their beliefs?
The war in the Ukraine is based in sin. A desire for control and wealth for a few, be they a Putin or a Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. They can’t see their sin blinded as they are by their nationalism and greed.
But, if we could have a platform for dialogue with all involved, all citizens included, I think most Russians and Ukrainians would want to work together. We are left to pray for the coming of a peace that comes from Christ. Advent is are time to do so through listening in silence to God so that he may give us what is needed to truly listen to others and realize divisiveness has no place in the family of God.
This week let us seek stillness and silence so we may come to recognize the presence of God within us and in every human heart and created thing. Let us be still and know that God is God!