NOTE: Throughout the Advent season, we’ll post a reflection on the readings for the upcoming Sunday in Advent just a few days before so individuals and groups can reflect in anticipation or incorporate it into their meetings, homilies, etc. The reflection will be available on our homepage through the weekend and then archived on our Advent 2024 webpage.
The reflection below is written by Beatrice Parwatikar from the 2003 Advent reflection booklet. This year’s booklet is still available for purchase at this link as an immediate download for your tablet or e-reader for $2.50.
by Beatrice Parwatikar
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Baruch 5:1-9 | Philippians 1:4-6. 8-11 | Luke 3:1-6
Baruch tells us to put on the beauty of God’s glory and let go of our sorrow and distress. Luke reminds us that Isaiah’s message was fulfilled in John the Baptist through his proclaiming the message from his desert experience. Proclaiming a message of justice should be spoken by someone who is speaking from a place of peace within. People who are seeking justice for themselves and others need to take time for personal prayer, for group prayer, and for personal reflection.
It saddens me to say there are many injustices in the world but we are not called to work on all of them. We are bombarded every day through all types of media of the cruelties and injustices of the world. But we must choose what we will act on, because we can become overwhelmed if we try to respond to everything — leading to inactivity, sadness or burnout. It is extremely important to discern what weighs heavily on your heart and mind, and then choose to work on that injustice. You are now ready to speak with authority on your beliefs. Words spoken from the truth of one’s heart touches others’ hearts and moves them to action.
Prayer and reflective readings are one way to continue to stay in touch with God’s grace and strength. This will enable us to try to understand the “why” of the people and the institutions that have caused the injustice. It is important not to become bitter, because this will have an effect on your inner peace, which is the inner strength you need for one’s work. Being part of a prayer group and being able to share one’s inner feelings with others sends a message that we are not alone in seeking to straighten the paths of injustice. Journaling is another important tool to help maintain inner peace.
For reflection:
- Name what renews your inner strength: People, places, activities?
- Do you take “desert” time? Do you use prayer as part of your social justice work?
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* This reflection is from Hoping, Seeking and Demanding Justice: Reflections for Advent 2003 by Beatrice Parwatikar. For reflections for everyday of Advent and the holy days of the Christmas season, you can purchase and download an e-reader version of Seeking Wisdom’s Light: Reflections for Advent 2024 by clicking here.
When one reflects on the many problems and the distress in the world, it is easy to wonder where to start as one seeks a resolution of the same that might be well applied.
In humility, perhaps we must and should begin within our own heart so as to act in such a manner as to not perpetuate the very issues we can see.
We can move from our heart to our family as our family is our first “school of love” and our first religious community. There we may learn how to love those who sometimes irritate us and whom we sometimes irritate on a day by day basis.
Then we can reach out to our immediate community, both religious and secular by volunteering in various programs that seek to help the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, the homeless, the elderly, the isolated, abandoned and the children of poverty…
Sometimes, the most important thing we can give is our company, being a hand to hold, a listening ear and an open heart.
Keep things simple while remembering that even the smallest thing we do for one of our brothers or sisters in need we are doing for Christ and through Christ.
In this way, we may become one of the “silent saints” who are not noticed anywhere except heaven…and that will be reward enough.
Yours in Christ. Wm B Harrell
No…to injustice, corruption, and destruction. Violation of rights and oppression occur because of lack of… The existence of the law. Its lack of application and implementation as it should be.Failure to meet the conditions for selecting characters in the work….God Almighty sent the best people to deliver His message.Humans I hope peace and justice prevail in the world.