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The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted…   Isaiah 61:1-2.  

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Today’s readings talk of a clear prophecy stated above, from Isaiah, and the fulfillment of that prophecy with the arrival of one John seen in the gospel. In the conditions of that time in the Holy Land, where the Jews had been under foreign, Gentile, occupation for about 500 years, that prophecy in Isaiah would have been very well known. Anyone claiming to be the fulfillment of that prophecy would have caused a huge stir. And that is what happened: crowds leaving the cities and coming to hear and see this new holy man in the hope he was the Messiah, the one to lead them to freedom from under the yoke of the unclean, pagan, idol-worshiping Roman troops. John, as you can tell from today’s gospel, goes to great pains to say he is not the Messiah. But, he adds, when he does come, he, John, would not be worthy enough even to untie his sandals. So he, like them, was waiting. 

The second reading is interesting in that it seems to be beyond Advent-style waiting, rather by looking forward to the final coming of the Lord, but with the sense, I think, that it will be when the Lord calls each of us. Hence Paul tells us clearly to pray without ceasing, test everything to ensure that what we choose is right. In that way, as he says, we will “be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Of course that applies to the current season, and it is good for us to be made aware of the waiting element both in Advent and in life itself. And that leads to my final thought.

Paul says “rejoice always”. Be aware of all that is right with yourself and the world around you and rejoice in that. To do otherwise is to “quench the Spirit”. A life of gratitude is surely a style pleasing to God. Just as we all like to be thanked for something we’ve done to make another person happier, so with God, who gave us our very life who relishes and loves a grateful child (us). So, let us count our blessings. Some have more to be grateful for, some less, but we should rejoice in whatever we have, and give thanks to God. Remember always that the word eucharist means “thank you” even in modern Greek. All  good things come from God. We his children, as we wait for his coming, both on the 25th and on that mystic final day when God calls each of us, should acknowledge that and show deep gratitude at all times. That would be a splendid prayer that we should “pray without ceasing” as Paul says.

Attitude of Gratitude, NAMI Dane County, Monona, Wisconsin, USA.

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