Reflection for November 30
At the beginning of Advent, I am reminded that outside the UN building in New York, there is a bronze statue crafted by a Russian sculptor and presented to the UN by the former Soviet Union. A strong male figure holds a sword in one hand and wields a hammer in the other with which he is beating the sword. Inscribed at the base of the statue are the words of Isaiah from today’s Mass: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” For me, this is a powerful articulation of the hope for which we all pray. Clearly this hope was in the heart of the sculptor who presented us with this statue.
We are still waiting for that radical transformation of swords into plowshares. This involves initiating actions to dismantle weapons, yes, but more important, it is a call to us to transform whatever there is still in our hearts as obstacles to peace. Sounds of devastation and destruction, tears of despair and powerlessness still fill the world. Yet, the first gentle light of the glory to come is already shining in the Advent candle that we light today. We are this candle, bringing the justice, peace, kindness, and light of Christ into society. And remember that a candle gives light -- a peaceful, silent, constant shining at the cost of its own life.
During Advent, we focus our prayer on the hope we have for a peaceful political climate, a spirit of cooperation among nations, guns falling silent in our streets. We continue to hunger for the dream that the incarnation began to realize two thousand years ago.
We can be sure that the Lord hears us as we pray: “Come, Lord Jesus! Come and pierce through those parts of our hearts and our world where your light does not yet shine. And then be with us, Lord, as we try to bring the light of this Advent candle into our very conflicted world.”
Sister Maryann Cantlon, CSJ