Today’s readings remind us that we do not find our refuge in political power, in military power, or in personal power and control. We find our refuge in a God who works in unexpected ways, even in the surprise of unexpected babies. The announcement of these various children in today’s reading reminds us of the hope of God’s power, while reminding us that God’s power emerges in God’s way – not ours. Hope through a baby means that along with that hope comes a waiting as that child grows. With these announcements of hope for a people, there was a mother’s joy, but also a mother’s heartbreak as neither Samson nor John lived to see old age, much like another miraculously announced baby celebrated at Christmas. I am led to see the way that our personal God provides personal consolation, the importance for us to listen for God’s consolation through the noise of our own wants, and the way we must let go of trying to put God in a box rather than being open to the creativity, whimsical, endless love and endless sight of an ever patient, and ever loving God who defies our attempts at control.
Another story reminded me of this recently. Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story shows ways a life’s paths and a life’s waiting seem disconnected but later can be seen to hold to God’s plan in ways unexpected by Dorothy Day herself – as is so often the case for each of us. Dorothy Day moving to Chicago during the time in her life when she was learning to love reading, and specifically reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle while observing Chicago’s workers may have seemed random coincidence but later can be seen as a part of her faith path, especially in later living out the Two Feet of Love in Action: charitable works and social justice [a call for all of us created by love, for love, and to love]. Similarly, her Feast of the Immaculate Conception prayer for a path forward and two days later being introduced to Peter Maurin, who was able to share Church teachings on social justice, led to the creation of The Catholic Worker. The way she was able to connect these events in an always growing prayer life shows us also the importance of growth, of waiting for growth in trust, and in listening to God to guide our action gives us deeper ways to continue sitting in this time of waiting in the already and not yet of Advent.
May we pray to love our unexpected God of refuge more dearly, to grow in love for others and remember how they, too, are personally loved by our immense God, and may we ask for the courage to trust in God rather than in ourselves – including trusting in God’s timing and teaching while seeking God’s will as we live out our own two feet of love in action in a way that responds to and partners with our God in depending relationship as we let go of our attempts to limit God through our control.
Laura Roost
Dr. Roost does research on care ethics in transitional justice, ethnicized/racialized violence, human rights, international law, African philosophy, and civic engagement/service learning in the classroom. Roost is a Resident Assistant Professor and Internship Director in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and currently serves as the Faculty Associate for Academic Service Learning in the Center for Faculty Excellence. At the American Political Science Association (APSA), Roost has served on the executive council of the Political Science Education section, and on the board for the APSA Human Rights section. Roost earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with graduate specializations in Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (Ph.D.), and Women’s & Gender Studies (M.A).