–  DESERT MOMENT –

 ARE WE STILL LIVING WITH HOPE?

Especially to those who feel tired, lost, or near giving up, this reflection should bring us to contemplate the theme of: Delay—Recup of the first week of Advent. 

Several images come to mind when thinking of Advent. One is a traffic light, especially the amber or orange light, which, for many people, is a symbol of hope that, in a short while, it will turn green and you will go. 

The image of a runner hearing the bell for the last lap in an athletics competition offers a compelling parallel for Advent. Just as the bell signals to long-distance runners—like Faith Kipyegon and Nadia Battocletti, whom we saw at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo—that the finish line is near, Advent serves as a signal from the Church. It is the spiritual “bell” telling us that the celebration of the Lord’s coming is drawing close.

ARE WE STILL LIVING IN PEACE?

Today’s reflection, set by the scripture, “A voice of the one that cries in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight” (Mk 1:3), immediately draws attention to the recurring theme of the “desert” in both the First Reading and the Gospel. This prominence of the desert raises a question: if the setting is dry and desolate, can peace truly be found?

The journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem illustrates this complexity. Far from the tranquil scene often imagined, their road was marked by discomfort, risk, and compulsion by political authority. Safety and ease were not promised. Yet, Christian tradition holds that their faithful endurance reveals a profound truth: true peace is not merely the absence of struggle, but the sustaining presence of purpose.

Following last week’s focus on Hope, a different image comes to mind this week. I sense a collective, painful question echoed in the quiet corners of our world: “Is there hope for peace?” I hear this query from young people burdened by expectations and from the elderly who fear being forgotten.

 I hear it from parents carrying invisible burdens, from students fighting silent battles, from friends who smile on the outside while breaking inside.

Hope seems fragile. Yet it is precisely in times like these, when life feels heavy, confusing, or unbearable, that hope becomes most powerful.

I hear it everywhere: from parents shouldering unseen worries, from students engaged in private struggles, and from friends whose outward smiles hide inner turmoil.

In such moments, hope often feels delicate and tenuous. However, it is precisely when life is at its most burdensome, confusing, or painful that the power of hope shines brightest.

Hope is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it is only a whisper, a tiny spark you barely notice. But that small spark has brought countless people back from the edge of despair. Hope is the gentle voice that says, “Not yet. Your story is not over.” It arrives in unexpected ways as a message from a friend, a small answered prayer, a stranger’s kindness, a memory that reminds you you’ve survived before. And in those moments, peace flows like a river from within to without.

Then today we are challenged by the readings to Preparing the Way in the Desert: 

The Desert Moment in Spiritual Life

The “desert” is a powerful symbol, representing those moments of spiritual yearning, or “craving,” in our lives. Spiritually, the desert is a place where we feel isolated, experiencing a profound spiritual thirst for God, much like a physical thirst for water. While we know intellectually that God is present, the spiritual dryness prevents us from feeling His manifest presence. This can lead to a sense of being abandoned or forsaken.

This state of spiritual dryness can manifest as stagnation—a dangerous moment where we feel lost and unable to “produce anything good” or “make anything green.” The evil one can exploit this dryness. However, today’s readings offer hope, reminding us that the desert moment is an integral part of our journey of faith, designed to move us to the “next level.”

In our journey with Jesus to Bethlehem, there are three common types of desert experiences…

1. Spiritual Desert

The Spiritual Desert is a period of “desolation” (Saint Ignatius’ term) marked by a lack of interest in prayer, often leading to sleeping during prayer or church services. This spiritual dryness, which even saints like Mother Teresa experienced, makes the Spirit feel dry and the soul paralyzed. The good news is this season is temporal and will pass; we are ultimately destined for victory.

2. Emotional Desert

To those in an emotional desert, battling depression: Many are spiritually and emotionally dry, feeling rejected and unwanted, believing they have nothing to offer due to deep sadness. Jesus reminds us, “the devil is a liar.” Advent, a time for the church to retreat, allows reflection, renewal of strength, and preparation for a victorious finish. Christmas promises joy, where the Star of Bethlehem shines, and all that was dry will bloom again.

3. Financial Desert

The difficulties of the past eleven months—perhaps including financial mistakes, such as accumulating unmanageable debt or starting unsustainable ventures—are nearing an end. Your presence here today is no accident; a transformation is imminent. The promise found in Isaiah’s words will be realized in your life the moment you step through this door. We will, like those who trust in the Lord, find our strength renewed. We will mount up with wings like eagles; we will run and not be exhausted; we will walk and not collapse.

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17.

Second Reading: Rom 15:4-9

Gospel: Mt 3:1-12