Second Thursday of Advent
Today is International Human Rights Day. We hear in our Gospel the prophetic words of Jesus that continue to speak to our current reality of human rights being violated in our communities, country, and around the world. “The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” In other passages Jesus reminds us that this Kingdom, or kin-dom more accurately, is here and now; it is within us like a seed waiting to sprout and bear fruit. Yet it is hard to cultivate the nutritious and supportive environment needed to bear good fruit when we are bombarded with violence – physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and spiritual violence – that is built into the culture, laws, and structures that surround us.
One particular type of violence I am confronted with daily in my work is the violence of human trafficking: the abuse and exploitation of a human person – a beautiful and unique member of the body of Christ and the kin-dom of God – for someone else’s personal gratification and profit. This is a form of modern-day slavery that violates the human rights of those who are trafficked, and it is estimated there are 40 million victims of human trafficking throughout the world today.
Yet despite this grim reality, and the violence that surrounds us, in this season of Advent we are reminded of the hope and goodness promised to us by God. Our first reading calls out to us: “Fear not… I will help you,” says the great I AM. We are not alone, and that is Good News! The Spirit of God is constantly working for the liberation of creation. In this season that prepares us to welcome the Emmanuel – the God who is with us – we are reminded that God is indeed with us in our current trials and tribulations. As members of the kin-dom of God we are called to be the prophets of today, even greater than John the Baptist, who will renounce the violence, defend human dignity and human rights, and create environments in which the seeds of liberation can grow and bear great fruit.
Let us pray,
God who Is, Was, and ever Will-Be, in this season of Advent we come to you and open our hearts and minds to your call to move past fear and to trust in your abiding love and presence. Give us the courage, wisdom, and strength to speak out and actively oppose all forms of violence that plague your beloved creation and violate our inherent human rights.
God who makes a way out of no way, fulfill your promise to turn deserts into lush marshes, to see what once was dead come to life again, as we work together to realize the kin-dom of life and liberation which is already present and promised and not yet fulfilled. Be the stream and fountain of life-giving water to refresh and sustain us when we grow weary.
Trusting in the promise of your presence and the activity of your Spirit moving us towards liberation, we offer you our thanks and praise.
Amen
