Reflecting with Isidore
29 November 2009
During Advent one of our students for the priesthood will be sharing their seasonal reflections with us on cliftondiocese.com. Today (29 November) - the First Sunday of Advent - Isidore Obi writes from Somerset where he’s learning lots on an extended pastoral placement in our Taunton deanery.
Having been on pastoral placement here in the diocese, I can see the clear difference between the classroom seminary formation and the real pastoral situation. It is more real to meet people where they are. Having said this, I stand convinced that one of the greatest challenges of the missionary life of the Church is to preach the good news in difficult situations. Yes. Take my word for it. One can easily slough off such human remarks like, “What is the good news about in bad situation?” Such questions do not always emerge from faithlessness but out of faith driven circumstances as well.
I no longer need to go as far as the book of Job to buttress the reality of good news in dialogue with hard times. It might sound far-fetched until you are asked to say a few words of consolation to a family that has lost their young promising soldier in Afghanistan. Indeed, a peculiar situation one may never get the spellings quite right. Again, think of a situation where you stand speechless and helpless at the sight of your parishioner, who has lost the only job that supports the family at this time of recession. I can imagine the helplessness and frustration of some missionaries and Christian aid agencies in the midst of our brethren in those isolated parts of our world besieged by drought and starvation.
In times like these, I begin to wonder if people still go home in peace when our Mss is ended. Or do they go home with troubled minds and hearts to face their problems? Take a look around. The gentle smile of courtesy easily identified on people’s faces as we meet each other is gradually vanishing. The environmental disasters, global recession and corruption, violence and terror seem to have given people no option but a low level of trust and mutual affection. Does it bother you?
There is no better time than ours could the signs in the Gospel of Luke today have spoken to the real situation of the moment. As for prophet Jeremiah, it must have been a big challenge to offer hope and consolation for the people of Israel in most difficult situation of his time. But the good news, which stands the test of time, is that in our helplessness we see the need to seek God’s help and intervention. We acknowledge we cannot do it on our own, when every arrow in a quiver of human wisdom seems to have been exhausted, while the situation lingers. It is the time to cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Today begins the period of Advent; as well as the new liturgical year of the Church’s calendar. Advent is a time to wait for God’s arrival. He comes as a human person ready to be with us in our real situation; as well as intervening as a glorious and mighty one, in total control of the situation. Ours is the disposition to welcome him with openness, faith, hope and trust. I am most inspired by the words in Luke’s Gospel today, which I understand to be saying: when all these signs begin to take place, lift up your hearts and keep your chin up for your redemption is imminent. Indeed, “the darkest part of the night,” as they say, “is the dawning of the day.”
Readings: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 24; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36.
Isidore Obi
During Advent one of our students for the priesthood will be sharing their seasonal reflections with us on cliftondiocese.com. Today (29 November) - the First Sunday of Advent - Isidore Obi writes from Somerset where he’s learning lots on an extended pastoral placement in our Taunton deanery.
Having been on pastoral placement here in the diocese, I can see the clear difference between the classroom seminary formation and the real pastoral situation. It is more real to meet people where they are. Having said this, I stand convinced that one of the greatest challenges of the missionary life of the Church is to preach the good news in difficult situations. Yes. Take my word for it. One can easily slough off such human remarks like, “What is the good news about in bad situation?” Such questions do not always emerge from faithlessness but out of faith driven circumstances as well.
I no longer need to go as far as the book of Job to buttress the reality of good news in dialogue with hard times. It might sound far-fetched until you are asked to say a few words of consolation to a family that has lost their young promising soldier in Afghanistan. Indeed, a peculiar situation one may never get the spellings quite right. Again, think of a situation where you stand speechless and helpless at the sight of your parishioner, who has lost the only job that supports the family at this time of recession. I can imagine the helplessness and frustration of some missionaries and Christian aid agencies in the midst of our brethren in those isolated parts of our world besieged by drought and starvation.
In times like these, I begin to wonder if people still go home in peace when our Mss is ended. Or do they go home with troubled minds and hearts to face their problems? Take a look around. The gentle smile of courtesy easily identified on people’s faces as we meet each other is gradually vanishing. The environmental disasters, global recession and corruption, violence and terror seem to have given people no option but a low level of trust and mutual affection. Does it bother you?
There is no better time than ours could the signs in the Gospel of Luke today have spoken to the real situation of the moment. As for prophet Jeremiah, it must have been a big challenge to offer hope and consolation for the people of Israel in most difficult situation of his time. But the good news, which stands the test of time, is that in our helplessness we see the need to seek God’s help and intervention. We acknowledge we cannot do it on our own, when every arrow in a quiver of human wisdom seems to have been exhausted, while the situation lingers. It is the time to cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
Today begins the period of Advent; as well as the new liturgical year of the Church’s calendar. Advent is a time to wait for God’s arrival. He comes as a human person ready to be with us in our real situation; as well as intervening as a glorious and mighty one, in total control of the situation. Ours is the disposition to welcome him with openness, faith, hope and trust. I am most inspired by the words in Luke’s Gospel today, which I understand to be saying: when all these signs begin to take place, lift up your hearts and keep your chin up for your redemption is imminent. Indeed, “the darkest part of the night,” as they say, “is the dawning of the day.”
Readings: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 24; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36.
Isidore Obi
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