A simple recipe

 

Certainly, amid these COVID days, most of us feel captive in our homes as our landscape has changed dramatically.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1), offers us a look at a very ancient prophecy during a time when the Hebrew people were liberated from Babylon by Cyrus of Persia.  Upon returning home, they discovered Jerusalem had changed.  It wasn’t how they remembered, and their dream of rebuilding the temple was stalled.  They were still unable to worship God—in essence, they were still captive.  Like the Hebrew people, we wonder if life will ever return to “normal.”  Isaiah is a foreshadow of the coming of the anointed One, the focus of Advent.  In Jesus, our joy, we see all those elements revealed, in Jesus, we see the Father’s Glory.  We’re close to welcoming Jesus among us—once again.  He truly is driven by the Spirit of God.

We see the Spirit of God at work in the humility of John the Baptist by his declarative statements, “I am not the Christ.  I am a voice crying out in the desert.”  Further, John offers that “he is among you, whom you do not recognize” (John 1:6-28).  Catholic teaching is that we’re all fashioned in the image of Christ.  We might ponder, how well do we respond to the Spirit of God at work in our lives? 

Mary understood the promise of liberation in her Magnificat suggesting that “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord”.  She recognizes the Spirit of God at work in her life and the life of the community (Luke 1:46-54).  St. Paul challenges us to, “Rejoice always.”  It’s a simple recipe, simply outlined: “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

Especially in this time of virus desolation, we could all use a little bit of joy.  Our call in these Scriptures is to rejoice, pay attention, to be ready, to always give thanks and trust that the “one who calls you is faithful, and he will accomplish it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).  Whatever the Spirit of God calls forth in our lives, may we respond in faith so that Jesus may come again—in us.  And may the Spirit of God protect all our healthcare workers and those suffering with COVID and their families.