Surely a strange picture to post on a winter's day when the Church calls us to remember a 4th century saint who never lived at the north pole but only in what is today Turkey, St. Nicholas. However, a very special friend and I had not emailed for a while and we were both wondering what was going on in each other's life. This picture recalled how many times people sit on the beach without saying a word, just staring at God's goodness in the sea and sky and sand. That's really what happens between good friends as well. So, this picture is to you, Blondie. All the other readers will wonder who you are and where you are!!! Some good weekend smiling. But let's get to the liturgical readings for today and the St. Nicholas day celebration.Isaiah's words are very much like a venetian blind: reading his thought are like the experience of slowly opening the blinds, allowing light and the world to enter into our experience for the day. Today's reading presents the Messiah as soon to come. He is not simply coming, he is bringing with him healing to the suffering that the people were already enduring. He will end their hunger and thirst. Isaiah promises that this Messiah will be one that we see, one that we can come to know. An inner voice will tell you: this is the one. This is the Old Testament message of the prophets.
Matthew's gospel directs our thoughts to Jesus' gift to us and the consequential need for us to share that gift. He tells the disciples "you are the ones now." You are the ones who are challenged to spread the good news. You are the missionaries now, you are to go out and find the lost and bring them back to their God.
St. Nicholas was, in a manner of speaking, a rather ordinary priest who became a bishop. He attended the Council of Nicea (remember we recite the Nicean Creed at Mass on Sundays!!). "That's about all we know," were the words of the celebrant at the parish Mass this morning.
But there was something about Nicholas that has brought him to be a sign for us: his obvious generosity. He was a priest and Bishop who was known for his outreach to those in need. He heard the voice of the Holy Spirit inviting him to respond with love and care for others just as Jesus had done for him.
This is our challenge today, especially as we join so many, many good people who are in genuine distress at this moment in our nation's history: to spread the good news. We can ask ourselves these question: Am I as excited about my faith and the kingdom of God as was Isaiah? Am I as outgiving as was Nicholas ... even before people started putting him in a sled!!!
