WE PREPARE in joy for Christmas. We seek each day for fruitful silence, for contrite prayer and for healing peace. Our Advent Scripture daily summons us to attend . . . to give ear. . . to listen in the deep places of the heart. The majestic words of Isaiah reach us linked to the haunting cadences of Handel's inspired music. We thank God who has given such gifts to His faithful servants and to us. Suddenly into our Advent calm, there comes a clear challenge that will not brook delay.
This people draw near with their mouth
And honour me with their lips,
While their heart is far from Me.
All complacency dissolves. Examination of conscience is demanded. We stand before our God and are judged by His Truth. Evasion, hypocrisy and the lie can find no place as we stand before the Mystery of Christmas and pray for a guiding Star.
As Advent opened, we celebrated in prayer and gratitude and pride, but in deepest sorrow, the memory of the gifted headmaster of St George's School in London's Maida Vale, who met a cruel death last year. The one who stabbed him was only 15. The much loved teacher, Philip Lawrence, had rushed to defend a pupil being attacked by a youthful gang. Now family, pupils and friends, with Cardinal Basil Hume OSB (Philip's former teacher at Ampleforth) and the Duchess of Kent, had gathered to thank God for Philip's life and to dedicate a simple memorial to a grace filled teacher.
It was a moment not to be forgotten when Lucien Lawrence, the nine year old son, said: "Now I shall unveil the memorial to my Daddy...". An Advent Memory for all time! The young soccer and rugby player led his mother Frances and his three sisters to the inscribed Pauline message: "Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the Truth.
Love is always ready to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes... love does not come to an end..." The words are a comment on Philip, who grew up in the peace and beauty of County Wicklow and gave his life to make the world a better place for all, and that the Bethlehem message would live in our hearts.
Frances, his widow, has bravely campaigned with all political parties to ban the sale of dangerous weapons and to get all to do what is possible to eradicate violence and hatred, so that we may walk our brief pilgrim journey in Peace.
How often Philip joined his companions and the monks of Amplefort on December evenings as the great college family prepared for Christmas with music, and with choral prayer.
And yet Lord, You are our Father.
We, the clay.
You are the potter.
We are the work of your hands...
Come to us and save us Lord God Almighty!
Let Your Face shine on us and we shall be safe...
Come to us, O Prince of Peace. Teach us to walk in your ways.
In last week's "Thinking Anew", the words "wise women" should have read "wise men".