The Sign of Justice

“It is easy to see Jesus in perfect times, but we are called to see Jesus in times of turmoil and fear. And whenever we catch even a glimpse of his glory, then we should stand erect and lift up our heads because faith tells us that his salvation is at hand.”

“The time of distress that Jesus warns us about is not some particular moment in future history; it is our continual struggle with evil that constantly puts us to the test. And so Jesus warns us to be on the watch, to be faithful”

“The test of a true Christian love is that it makes those whom we love strong”

“Often we will say that Advent is a season of waiting but perhaps the little apocalypse tells us it is really a season for enduring”

“This idea of Jesus coming back in a scary or judgmental way doesn't work when this text is read in light of Daniel. Instead we see this hopeful image of people coming before God amidst everything, of God being there and present to people in the midst of everything.”

“Give your worldly success if you have it to Christ, give your family to Christ, give your fame if you have it to him. He's the fixed star.”

“Keep your eyes fixed on the Son of Man, to the Christ who links you to the very power of God”

“Only through building habits and structures of love and solidarity will we “dwell securely.””

“So we need to be wary that the main project of our lives, growing in holiness, does not become obscured by other concerns and anxieties”

“We can be touched by this Love, and transformed by the Love, and healed by this Love because it is not just something that happened 2000 years ago – but an arrival that is happening now”

“Through today’s readings God challenges us to develop that spiritual gift of being mindful of God in our daily lives and in the lives of others and respond to violence. The transformation has to start with a change of heart and living out what we preach.”

“The struggle of the Christian life is to capitulate neither to fear nor pleasure as we wait for Our Lord to return for us”

“What could be more precious than to be entrusted with another life to nurture, to cherish, to guide, to educate and to form as a responsible member of society conformed to the image of God in Christ?”

“Advent is a time where we strive to be patient with God, and patient in what He is trying to teach and say to us. We’re thankful for this patience, because it’s through this patience in God’s plan and vigilance in our Faith that we are able realize what He has in store for us.”

“Advent prepares us to appreciate the child born in the manger who will give his life for us on the cross. With confidence in his cosmic saving power we can face an apocalyptic world with hope.”

“We draw our courage from the weakness of the child who is God with us”

“During these weeks of Advent, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, may we also nurture the virtues of nonviolence in our own lives, our communities and our nation as we work for a just and sustainable peace on earth”

“The coming of the Lord is the active presence of God in our lives here and now as well as in the future. What is required of us to be alert, to be awake, to the light of faith as offered to us here and now.”

“If overanxiety about the ordinary affairs of life is to be avoided, so too is overanxiety about the extraordinary things foreshadowed in the Scriptures”

“The Gospel makes clear that the foundation of our hope is not what has happened to us in the past, but what God intends to do for us in the future”

“How come our lives are still so fraught with danger and anxiety and failure? Well, because we're still waiting for the definitive coming.”

“We should not trust in any of the powers of this world to give us final security and peace. Such peace will come only with the arrival of God's kingdom.”

“God's justice is arriving, God's new world is breaking in. And now order your life around that perception and let everything else fall into place around it.”