Joyful anticipation and hope are in the air! In the Gospel passage, Luke highlights human history, for God will be born in a particular place and time. John vigorously announced that the Salvation promised has now arrived and interior disposition is crucial. The mountains of greed, racism, and hatred are to be flattened; whatever impedes our ability to receive the Source of merciful love is to be relinquished.
In her novel “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,” Carson McCullers writes: “There was hope in him, and soon perhaps the outline of his journey would take form.”
The brown-streaked song sparrow, which only begins singing in late winter, offers its hope-filled song.