Rejoice in God’s Justice
~ Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Pius V–a glimpse of God’s holy mountain, where peace and right relationship reign. On that October day, the same joyful energy with which all nations will flow towards God’s mountain animated the processions of people of every color, age, shape, and size towards the altar. Songs and prayers in thirteen distinct languages filled the sanctuary with gratitude and praise, an echo of Isaiah’s dream of the celebration to come. A potluck meal with Vietnamese egg rolls, Togolese couscous, and Eritrean coffee blended diverse smells and tastes that left no one excluded and everyone filled with good things: peace, community, solidarity, and mutual love. This is a glimpse of God’s justice.
Contrary to our deepest convictions of who God is, an unreflective impression of divine justice might leave us at best feeling unsettled if not terrified. Our mind veers towards the stern judge with the angry eyebrows ready to cast lightning bolts at the next person to misstep. However, this Advent we are called to embrace God’s justice with rejoicing because it sets things right and takes what has been divided (us!) and makes us whole. We are called to live out the kind of mutuality that we got a taste of at the Migration Mass. Isaiah’s dream makes it clear that God’s justice will prioritize the poor, humble, weak, suffering, and excluded. This is good news! This is worth celebrating now by putting it into practice today. This Advent make a special effort to reach out to someone who is different from yourself and walk towards God’s holy mountain together…rejoicing!
Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.