Homily for Third Sunday of Advent 2016
To paraphrase the Gospel, what did you come here to see? Pretty Advent decorations? What did you come here to see? Finally dressed people? What then did you come here to see? A prophet, a homilist who could string words together in a complete sentence? Ah, yes, and more than that. You came to see if love is really possible, to make sense out of nonsense, to feel comforted and a bit more centered by a Word of HOPE. We all need a huge dose of HOPE and we spend a lot of time and do a lot of things to try and find HOPE if not enduring LOVE. At times we say “we placed all our hopes on (you fill in the blank) only to be somewhat or hugely disappointed. Some of you, if you are close to my age, will remember at time when cereal box came with coupon offerings for toy and nick knacks on the back. If the sugary non-nutritional cereal wasn’t enough they would grab us with outrageous offers. I’d send them off and then wait, and w...