Lesson from Fr. Paulus | God Never Forgets About Us

My dear brothers and sisters, all of us have experienced pessimistic moments. Sometimes we experience pessimism because no matter what we do we can't seem to avoid suffering; painful things just keep happening to us and those we love.

Sometimes we experience discouragement because we can't seem to avoid sin; we just keep falling into the same patterns of greed, lust, impatience, and laziness. Sometimes we experience cynicism when we look at society and see so much that is wrong, so much injustice, degradation, and violence.

Today, as we start the Second week of Advent, God has something to say about pessimism, discouragement, and cynicism.

He is saying: pessimism, discouragement, cynicism will all come knocking at your door, but don't let them in! Do not let yourself be afraid, because I am your Lord and Savior, and I have not forgotten about you!

This is the message of the Gospel, where we hear St John the Baptist's voice ring out with hope in the wilderness of pessimism: the Lord is coming!

From the first reading we listen to Isaiah, who preaches comfort to God's sinful people, reminding them that he is like a shepherd who gathers the lambs of his flock (us) in his arms.

In the Second Reading, St. Peter told us, even if it seems that God is absent, has forgotten about us, or is powerless to help us, we know that he is simply waiting for the right moment to send in his grace.

Because for God, a thousand years are like a day, St Peter reminds us, and a day is like a thousand years; what seems like a long wait for us is in reality just the blink of an eye.

Advent is our yearly reminder that God has not forgotten about us, no matter how we may feel. In fact, he never stops thinking of us, and he is leading us with care to our everlasting reward.

God has not forgotten about us, and he never will; this is the source of our comfort and courage amidst life's trials. And he wants to come with fresh blessings for each one of us this Christmas.

According to the prophet Isaiah, there are two things we can do to get ready to receive those blessings: to fill in every valley and to make low every mountain. The valleys stand for our sins of omission, the things we should be doing but aren't.

For example, if we aren't spending quality time with our family, we need to fill in that valley. If we aren't spending at least a few minutes each day in prayer with God, we need to fill in that valley. If we aren't going regularly to confession to rejuvenate our souls with God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness, we need to fill in that valley.

The mountains are the selfish and sinful habits that we have built up; the sins of commission. If we like to gossip and spread criticism, we need to tear down that mountain. If we are leading a double life, indulging in hidden sins or lies that are poisoning our souls, we need to lay low that mountain. If we are arrogantly treating our colleagues, teammates, or family members like lower class people, we need to topple that mountain.

The mountains and valleys inhibit God's grace from traveling into our hearts; they are roadblocks that keep out God's mercy, peace, and wisdom.

Advent is the season to smooth out and clear up the roads to our hearts. Christ wants to help us do that, as he will prove again during Eucharist. Everytime we receive him in Holy Communion, let's promise that we'll give him that chance.