A gardening god comes to convince us with another perspective: “Let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good. If not, then you can cut it down.” In other words, maybe this tree has more potential hidden beneath its outwardly barren reality.

If God is still present, so too is His light and love—a light and love that conquers even the darkness within the human heart.

And like Bernard Mizeki, we have the privilege of making a profound impact on the lives of others through our faith and actions.

We remember these saints to inspire us to hope; hope that the light did not overcome the darkness, hope that even in the valley of the shadow of death God is with us, hope that things will change.

Luke hears Jesus say he is the anointed one. Physicians, then as now, would anoint patients with healing oils and salves to aid the healing of wounds.  Jesus’ promise is to bind up the wounds of our broken body and inner heart.

We need to hear this affirmation from God, and we need to hear it from each other. These are life giving words that every human being upon this earth should hear: “You are my dear child; I’m proud of you.”

If this Christmas you are asking the question, maybe desperately, whether God is with you, the answer is “yes, absolutely.”

The mystery of Bethlehem is that it doesn’t matter how dark, or cold things are, Jesus is born, and God’s light breaks through the darkness.

Today we are encouraged not only to bear our sufferings, but to give thanks in the midst of them. Today, we are exhorted to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

This season of Advent challenges us to a different kind of preparation, one that calls us to examine our lives, our values, and our priorities.

Nothing lasts for ever, except Jesus’ words, the Incarnate Word; who was, and is, and is to come. What does it mean to hear this truth, this promise in the midst of impermanency?

“Live as children of light!” How do we do that?

Although too often this narrative has been used to portray a hopeless and catastrophic situation, in reality, Jesus seems to be speaking about a hopeful and salvific future.

The violence and death we inflict on each other does not have to be this way. There is still hope.

“God has knit together his elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Christ.”

Like Bartimaeus, through being in community with one another we are able to hear “take heart, get up, he is calling you.”

If we walk this path of faith, if we can follow Jesus’ teachings about love, forgiveness, giving, serving others, and remove the potential stumbling blocks that get in our way, then we will be transformed. It is impossible to walk in here, spend time with this community and not be transformed.

Contentment is about being satisfied given the limitations of our present life, what is not changeable.

When we live out these teachings and offer selfless service to others, we create a piece of the Kingdom of God in the here and now, and indeed in the place we call home.

Greatness is determined by weakness and vulnerability. By service and sacrifice. By humility and honour. By truthfulness and faithfulness.