Church of the
Annunciation

A prophet speaks the truth – the prophetic word troubles the comfortable and comforts the troubled. The prophet, already transformed by the truth, speaks with such clarity and conviction to individuals, to society and to authority that the prophetic word is heard not as his/her own but as coming from God. We have two acknowledged prophets today in our readings at Mass: Isaiah and John the Baptist. Isaiah confronts Kings of Israel and Judah on their entanglements/alliances with foreign powers and their lack of fidelity to God. But Isaiah also speaks of a coming peaceable kingdom and a future ideal King. John the Baptist speaks a hard word to religious leaders calling them to true repentance and openness to receive the One who is to come from God – Jesus Christ. There are great women prophets too. Recall Dorothy Day in the 20^th century. Her search for the truth leads her to Jesus and baptism in the Catholic Church. She begins to see with God’s eyes and hear the voice of the poor. She establishes houses of welcome and hospitality during the great depression. The Catholic Worker, her voice and movement, challenges America to be mindful of poverty, unemployment and working conditions of laborers. As a Catholic Christian she opposes war and advocates non violence. U.S. Catholic Bishops are endorsing her cause for Canonization. We are all aware of a great prophet who died this past week – Nelson Mandela. He aggressively fights against the apartheid government in South Africa. He is imprisoned for 27 years. When released, Mandela pleads for forgiveness and national reconciliation!  In our 2^nd reading St. Paul urges the Church at Rome to welcome others as Christ welcomes them. During Advent we are inspired to welcome others and to seek reconciliation with those who have offended us.