Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

4th Sunday of Advent (December 18, 2005)

Readings 2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89: 2-5, 27, 29 Rom 16: 25-27 Lk 1: 26-38

Suggested Emphasis

"I will plant them that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old. I will give you rest from all your enemies."

"Nothing is impossible with God."

Salesian Perspective

Imagine a world without enemies. Imagine a world without bullies. Imagine a world without people taking advantage of others or using others for their own advantage or gain. Imagine a world devoid of words spoken or actions committed in anger. Imagine schools in which nobody was ever teased or taunted. Imagine families in which no one was ever abandoned, neglected or ashamed.

In short, imagine a world in which everybody lived in peace everywhere with everyone else.

An inspired hyperbole? An unrealistic expectation? A fantasy? A farce? An illusion? A delusion? Just a famous song by the Beatles? Not according to Scripture, for as we hear today, "nothing is impossible with God."

In the mind of the Gentleman Saint, his incredible promise that "nothing is impossible with God" challenges us each day to practice two great virtues hope and aspiration.

Francis de Sales describes hope at that which focuses our attention on "those things we expect to gain by another's aid." (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 2, Ch 17) Obviously, we are incapable of creating all by ourselves the kind of world that the promise of the coming of the Messiah would make possible. We need the love of God, the salvation of Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to make this possibility a reality.

Francis de Sales describes aspiration as the consideration of "those things after which we can strive by our own resources and by ourselves." (Ibid) Aware of our need for God's help and the support of one another, hope is simply wishful thinking unless we are also prepared to seriously consider what we can do now to make a promise of peace a greater reality in the future.

While "nothing may be impossible for God," Francis de Sales claims that it is impossible for us to try to practice these virtues separately: to aspire for a peaceful world without acknowledging our need for God and each other the ultimate expression of arrogance, while to merely hope for peace without being willing to work for it is the ultimate form of cowardice

As we approach another Christmas, a celebration of the peace and that God promises us in Jesus through the Spirit, let us hope for a better tomorrow and work for a better today, for nothing is impossible for God...and for those who, together, walk in God's ways.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS is Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.