St. Agnes Weekly Homily

Advent 2
December 10, 2006

by T. Matthew Rowgh

Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6


In the early evening one day this past week, I went off to find a townhouse in Martinsburg where five young adults were living. The day before I received a phone call. The young lady described how she and her friends were scared that there was some kind of evil within their townhouse. Would I come, pray with them and do a blessing. During the prayer one of the individuals who was obviously uncomfortable and unhappy refused a blessing from me.

Before I left them that night they shared with me while standing out on the front sidewalk their concern regarding the young lady who refused the blessing. I promised to keep in touch and help them sort out the emotional disturbance within that young eighteen year old, the emotional disturbance that now engulfed all of them living in the townhouse.

I found myself in the mountainous terrain of life where many of our young folks are these days. There was no strong faith or belief among them yet they called me, a Catholic priest, looking for help. Living with an emotionally disturbed individual, they felt lost and they were indeed desperate. There are many folks, young and old, who attempt to negotiate the winding roads of uncertainty. For far too many there are mountains that stand in the way, there are valleys so wide they do not know how to cross to the other side.

You and I have a unique role in this world and in the lives of our troubled young people. We strive to bring hope to those who are uncertain. We are a people who carry Christ within and he makes us a strong and stable force, a sure presence. We do not necessarily have answers to all life’s difficulties and I was not quite sure what I would encounter in that townhouse. Yet, Christ as the focus of my life and ministry was all that was necessary. Christ within gives us confidence and direction. Christ within brings hope, assurance, and peace.

We do not need to go very far to find individuals who are in need. They may be in the classroom where you teach, the office or social agency where you work. They might well be that relative or neighbor who asks for a ride to the store or a doctor’s appointment. We come here to our Sunday celebration that we might be prepared to be a strong spirit of hope out there!

The Advent scriptures have a certain beauty unmatched throughout the year. The lessons today are filled with hope as they present a wonderful picture where God intervenes in human history. The prophet Baruch reminds us how the children of Jerusalem were carried away in sadness and now they return rejoicing. Therefore, he says take off the garment of sorrow and affliction, put on forever the beauty and the glory of God. In the gospel lesson John the Baptist comes upon the scene announcing the arrival of the Messiah that will transform and redeem. These extraordinary events took place in history and as they are told again they cannot help but bring an uplifting spirit and hope as we journey in a dark world.

In between these two lessons we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. From a prison cell Paul writes a word of encouragement. Paul says that his genuine love and affection for them is actually love and affection of Christ himself. His prayer is that even as he is imprisoned and the community is persecuted the faith and life of Christ will continue to deepen within them.

As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist on this Second Sunday of Advent, may we be renewed in hope as we bring the presence of Christ to those we encounter this week!


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