December 6, 2004

"Promises, promises, promises..." You know the tone of voice that usually comes with this phrase, playfully or seriously conveying skepticism and doubt, accompanied by a slow shaking of the head.

If we settled into a cynical "New York" sort of attitude, we might feel that the promises we have been hearing from the prophet Isaiah are too much for us. We hear today from chapter 35, for example, of deserts bursting out with pools and springs of water, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame leaping and the mute singing. The road of holiness will be opened up for the redeemed and "those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy. They will meet with joy and gladness; sorrow and mourning will flee."

Last week I was visiting the grandmother of one of our postulants. She was on her deathbed and received Viaticum, the Body and Blood of Jesus. "Viaticum" means to take (Jesus) with you along the way, along the royal road to the heavenly Zion. After she received the Lord she prayed a beautiful prayer for forgiveness and called upon Jesus and the Holy Spirit and drifted into a peaceful sleep. A little later she lifted her arms in an open gesture, and as her daughter came to her side asking if she was all right, she replied with great joy "I'm going to heaven. I'm going to see my Dad soon!" This was a real epiphany and consolation. Indeed in meeting the Lord our "sorrow and mourning will flee."

We hear in the Gospel readings about the fulfillment of these promises by Jesus. The paralytic lowered through the roof not only starts leaping because of his physical healing, but his parched soul receives the living water of forgiveness as well. Jesus is the fulfillment of our deepest desires today as much as He was 2000 years ago. May we joyfully persevere along that path of the redeemed, along the path of His true and amazing "promises, promises, promises!"

On an unrelated note, here's a bit of trivia about Santa Claus, since today is his feast day. Do you know where he got the red suit from? Up until approx. 100 years ago St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, was depicted in blue garments, representing his love and defense of the Blessed Mother. However, when Coca-Cola started putting Saint Nick on their Christmastime advertisements in the early 1900's, they decided red would be more catchy and match their product. Shall we start a campaign to put the blue back on Santa Claus?

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR
Community Vicar, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem, New York
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