Pastor's Corner: Joy? At a time like this?

This Sunday, Dec. 13, will be the third Sunday in Advent. On this Sunday, we light the third candle on the Advent Wreath. This candle is called the Shepherds Candle - the pink candle - this represents the Joy felt by the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. The color of the vestment's clergy wear - in the Roman Catholic Church - is pink. Perhaps you could stop by for Mass this weekend at St. Jude and catch a glimpse of Father Dan - he looks good in pink.

I am in so much trouble for that.

Getting back to the theme of Joy; I cannot help but believe that this theme could not be more appropriate for this time and this place. Our first reading for this Sunday comes from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11. The context for this reading is as follows: the Hebrew people had just been freed from captivity in Babylon, and on their return to their land find that it has been destroyed and desecrated. Again, as in the Book of Exodus, the Hebrew people are freed from captivity only to find themselves is a situation that seems much worse than the slavery they had just left.

They find themselves faced with starvation, political instability, no protection from invaders and what seems like an insurmountable workload with little hope for compensation. In the face of all this what does the Prophet Isaiah tell them?

"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,

to proclaim liberty to the captives and

release to the prisoners,

to announce a year of favor from the Lord

and a day of vindication from our God."

This seems a little "pie in the sky" doesn't it? Good grief let's face reality - a "year of favor from the Lord," when it feels as though we have been rejected by Him. Vindication? There seems to be no vindication only continued strife and struggle. Liberty and freedom - when there is only drudgery and forced work. What kind of joke is Isaiah playing on these people?

I believe we find ourselves in a similar situation now. How can we rejoice in the face of this looming pandemic? Using the words of Isaiah, I believe we should rejoice in the Lord. Not by ignoring the situation we find ourselves in but by facing it head on and allowing the Spirit of God to work upon us.

Rejoicing in the fact that the "Spirit of God is upon us." Giving us the ability to work with one another and with God to bring healing into the midst of this illness. The "Spirit of God is upon us," giving us the freedom to choose to take measures that can prevent the spread of COVID-19. The "Spirit of God is upon us," empowering us with the freedom to work together to bring healing to the ill and freedom to those who have been confined to their homes or rest homes because they are at risk of infection. The "Spirit of God is upon us," empowering us to roll up our sleeves and get to work serving the needs of one another and working together in a spirit of unity to help our neighbors who are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

When we allow the Spirit of God to mold us and shape us like this then we will indeed be able to "announce a year of favor from the Lord, a year of vindication by our God." We just have to leave our egos behind so God can work with us and fill us with His Joy.

Just so you know, I look pretty good in pink also.

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Deacon Tim Maroney

St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church