Article & Journal Resources

By Paul Locatelli
Article Launched: 12/11/2007 01:35:49 AM PST

During this holiday season, millions of us will be celebrating, in our own ways, God coming into our world.

Our Jewish sisters and brothers are in the midst of their celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as they recall the victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple, and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

Our Muslim brothers and sisters will, at the end of December, celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, which lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. But when Ibrahim heard a voice from heaven, he stopped and instead was allowed to sacrifice a ram.

Our African-American sisters and brothers will celebrate Kwanzaa, which recalls seven principles to live by: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

This time is one of particular reflection for me. I find lessons from the past apply to our world today. Advent, which began Dec. 2, is the time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

I had the privilege of celebrating the liturgy on the first day of Advent with Santa Clara University's campus community of students, staff and faculty. These are the reflections that came to me in prayer while preparing for that celebration:

In the second chapter of Isaiah, the prophet says, to paraphrase, all nations shall stream toward the
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Lord's temple - in the holy city of Jerusalem - and learn from God. Then "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 . . . come, let us walk in the light of the Lord."

Isaiah speaks to people of all faiths and all people of good will. Recall that the prophet Isaiah, whom Jesus often cited to clarify his own mission to the world, called for harmony because he foresaw a better life for the people of Israel who were being confronted by a hostile Assyrian empire that wanted to occupy or destroy them.

Living in a world troubled by war, conflict and alienation, just as our world is today, Isaiah challenged the leaders not to be politically expedient and the people not to despair, but for all to be faithful to God's call for peace and justice. It's a beautiful image of all nations and many people streaming toward the holy mountain, the temple in the city of Jerusalem.

Isaiah is a prophet for our time and world as much as for the people of ancient Israel. He could see grace and goodness in the world; he called on the people to see what he saw and to have the courage to overcome war and conflict - over race or poverty or culture or religion or any ideal or emotion that divides us. Isaiah imagined a time when God would establish a new world order on earth and care for all creation as God intends for us to do. For our part, may we live as citizens who will fashion better communities and democracy by personal engagement.

In this time leading up to elections, this includes selecting candidates who will work for global understanding and justice as we also must. May we overcome prejudice and alienation and form communities where immigrants and people who've been here five generations, Native Americans and refugees from all parts of the world, poor and rich, gay and straight, friend and stranger, live as sisters and brothers in God.

And may we tenderly care for the earth, God's creation, for it is fragile, and we owe to future generations an earth that is clean, green, and just as beautiful as we know it.

Isaiah imagined the new presence of the God in our midst, a God who would bring new light into the world. People of all nations and religions would walk in the light and, metaphorically, stream up to the holy mountain - the temple of the city of Jerusalem - where all would see God. May we be alert to the goodness of all people and work for understanding among people of all cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and ways of life.

Isaiah imagined people doing good by using their gifts for the life of the world. May we see ourselves as gifts from the God of all people and may we always make God's presence visible to others - as people of mercy and compassion, justice and faith, committed to building a more humane, sustainable, and just world of peace and harmony among all.
PAUL LOCATELLI, S.J., is president of Santa Clara University.