Christ's Presence in the World
Fr.Gus Carter
12 /12/ 04

I read one time of a school teacher in San Diego. She noticed that some of her pupils were listless, unable to concentrate, by mid-morning. She suspected that these children came to school with little or no food. There was a school lunch program but that did not solve the morning lack of energy. She began bringing bags of fruit or some other type of food each day for these children. She would feed them at recess. Her small solution seemed to make a difference.

This woman was giving her children something else besides food. She was showing an attitude of love and concern. The students knew they mattered to her. In a way, it was a small effort, but she did do something."

In today's Gospel Matthew wants us to ask along with John the Baptist's disciples, "Is Jesus the one who is to come, for us?" "The one who is to come" was a designation for the "Messiah" or "Savior." " Messiah" is a Hebrew word that means "anointed" "Christ" comes from a Greek word that also means "the anointed one." In the Old Testament one who was anointed by the Lord received power to carry out a divine plan.

God's plans always intend to save people from sin, suffering and death. Our sins and the sins of others cause so much pain in the world. Loneliness, friendlessness, seeming not to count, physical and psychological abuse are experienced as small deaths. In that sense people are dying all around us. Can we sensitive enough to care about such people?

In Old Testament times the Hebrew people looked for the king to provide the order and peace needed to live with some fullness. Many kings, instead, laid heavy burdens of their people. They began looking forward to a future king who would deliver them. There is a human tendency to expect someone else to solve our problems. Jesus insisted that peace on earth, with the help of God's grace, is a "do-it-yourself program." We must cooperate with God's help and with one another.

Jesus does bring us salvation. By word and by example he teaches us how to live in peace. He further brings into focus the love and compassion God has for the human race. We know that we are not alone in our struggle for an abundant life. We get encouragement and a taste for eternal life by following Jesus in our daily lives. We are challenged and given the privilege of being Christ's presence in the world. In our efforts to care about one another we become sacramental presences of our Lord. Growing in our Christ-life enables us to bring redemption and hope to every situation and relationship.

Our God is a God of surprises. In early Hebrew history people could imagine salvation coming only from a king. Gradually the people began to learn the lesson of their own responsibility. Jesus reveals that we are all given the joyous task and power to be sources of salvation for one another. Every compassionate and healing and redeeming action manifests the Incarnation, Christ's presence in the world. The Lord comes to individuals daily in our simple and common acts of love.

Many in our congregation are like the school teacher. They are creative and energetic in performing actions that are possible for them. They remind us that we are "other Christ's." We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit to carry out God's plan. We should thank God for the people who make Christ present in the world. They give hope and inspiration among us.

Advent is a season of longing and hope. The human longing for peace and goodness is satisfied by our following of Jesus Christ. Our hope of overcoming the forces of death among us comes from the power of Jesus among us. Jesus told us that we can find him in every person we meet. "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." We long for the power of Jesus in our lives. Yet our baptism makes us representatives of Christ in the world. We have received the Holy Spirit of Jesus to become light in the darkness of life. The joy of Advent is knowing that our light has come. Our prayer is that we allow the power of Jesus to make us sources of life in the face of deadly threats from the evils we encounter. The prophet Isaiah encourages us today: "Strengthen the hands of the feeble,! make firm the knees that are weak,!say to those who are frightened:! Be strong, fear not!! Here is your God,! he comes with vindication;! with divine recompense! he comes to save you."