Who God is for us – and who we are to God – is beautifully expressed in the liturgical texts for this day. Jesus’ name – God’s name – is who God is:  ‘God Saves.’  We have nothing to fear; all is made whole, ransomed, redeemed, in the person – the name – of Jesus. All we could hope for or desire is already promised if we ask for it in Jesus’ name. Jesus is always here for us, living to intercede for us.

On our part, God’s name – the name of Jesus – is to be honored among us. We are to praise and glorify his name; teach and proclaim his name, do everything in his name. When we gather we gather in his name. And, on occasion, we may have to suffer for his name.

In the end, God’s name – the name of Jesus – his person – as well as our own new name will be emblazoned on our forehead. We will be recognized as his because we bear his name. What glory will be ours in that day.

We are in the last week of the year and the Liturgy reminds us to look to the end of all things.  ” We have not here a lasting city.”  Life as we know it will pass away.  “Not one stone will be left upon another,”  Luke tell us in this morning’s Gospel reading. All will be destroyed.

Yet the emphasis is not – cannot be – on the end but on the beginning. All endings herald a new beginning. We finish one task, we begin another; one day ends and we look to tomorrow. Even the loss of everything, even death itself, points to something new. God is greater than all. Life itself cannot be destroyed.

At Office of Readings – in contrast to the Gospel’s destruction of Jerusalem – we read Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones.  “Can these bones live?”  Indeed, bones dead and dried for centuries, in a twinkling of an eye, at God’s command, returned to life. New life.

And so it is with us. Endings, with all their grief and pain, are never really  ‘the end.’  There is always hope for something new and beautiful before us. God has promised and God will do it.

The Advent Stations will be performed at Holy Spirit Parish Church on Friday, December 17, 2010 starting at 7:00. The texts were composed by Father Ambrose Eckinger and Father James Sullivan, both Dominicans of St. Joseph’s province. The stations were created by Sr. Mary Grace Thul, OP of our monastery. Fr. Tim Nolin will be celebrant for this devotion. All are invited.

Check out our newest Christmas Card catalog for 2010, with new images from Sr. Mary Grace, and photos from other Sisters. Go to: http://sistermarygrace.artspan.com/