by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Today, Isaiah paints a picture of the great day of the Lord, in images of a magnificent banquet, a feast of rich food and choice wine. The splendid meal will be not only sumptuous but joyful. For the Lord God will wipe away all tears from our faces. He will destroy death forever.

The prophecy, like life itself, is a contrast of mixed and somewhat opposing emotions, that seek to be resolved. St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit priest of the 15th century, and Mother Theresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, toiled in India to bring this message to the poorest of the poor. But it is up to us to bring this message to the poorest of the poor in our own neighborhood and parish.

How many times have we asked God to save us or someone we love from suffering? How many times have we said to God: I need this or that. The only thing I want for Christmas is perhaps to be healed or delivered from some painful relationship.

Then suddenly, as if a light goes on, we see our suffering as an opportunity to learn more about love by entering into relationship and working through the difficulties.

Often we have asked to be saved from our own busyness or stress; but have we come to realize that in most situations, we have created that busyness and stress by our own choices and decisions, and they can be reversed by choices and decision nurtured by a new attitude of gospel thinking.

We can begin by praying: God save me from myself, from that part of me which is not loving as it ought, that gets too easily discouraged, that does not like being vulnerable or dependent.