Reflection on the Third Sunday of Advent

When I worked at the Zoo, I had two favorite animals I liked to use in programs because they had such cool adaptations. One was the hedgehog. Generally, a hedgehog is about the size of a hamster; it fits in your hand. But when threatened, it can roll up into a ball, about the size of a softball, its specialized prickly hair stands on end, and it lets out a significant hiss. Holding one always requires leather gloves. No matter how many times I picked up one of those animals, that painfully prickly body armor and that inflated hiss always startled me. This from an animal that posed absolutely no threat to me!

My other favorite animal was the eastern hognose snake. This particular snake is also chock full of adaptations. Despite being quite small, maybe 16 inches long total, it can present a formidable appearance when threatened. I used to tell the kids it was a cobra wanna be, because when I would go to his cage to bring him out, he would rear up and spread the skin in his neck, pull back and strike, just like a cobra. However, unlike a cobra, the 16-inch hognose snake doesn’t bite; it isn’t venomous, and it doesn’t even have teeth. It literally just throws itself at you; it just bumps you with all its 8-ounce might. You might not even feel it. However, even when I knew it was coming, and even though it happened every single time, I often bruised the back of my hand, having smashed it on the side of the cage as I recoiled from his impressive strike. 

Both of these animals act with the conviction that their defenses have worked well for them in the past and even historically, for generations. You might say they are confident of the same favorable result — that is, to scare the “beegeebies” out of their threatening foe. 

About now, you’re probably wondering why I’m telling you animal stories yet again. There is a point to them.

But, first,  I’m currently reading a book called “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures” by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. The author herself says that hers is “a book about possibility and transformation. It’s about what the world could be if we charge ahead with the array of climate solutions we already have at our fingertips.” What I like about this book and why I recommend it to you is that in each chapter the author interviews a scientist about some aspect of the climate reality and explains much of the exciting work that is currently already being done in that area. Instead of painting the dire picture that we’re all so used to and so consumed by, she gives us cause to say, “Wow, who knew!” 

On another note, in a recent episode of NOVA on PBS called “Build Stuff!: Change It!,” I found out that engineers are working with Navajo women potters to design ceramic filters that combine the characteristics of their traditional clays and glazes to separate out the heavy metals like strontium which make reservation water unsafe to drink. Think about it! Current breaking technology plus centuries old traditional art to make water fit to drink – “Wow, who knew!”

Historically, today is called Gaudate Sunday, named for the opening word of the Introit, “Rejoice!”(Be happy!”) The responsorial psalm is the focus of my reflection because it trumpets that message of Rejoice!  And it is our response. We sang, “Cry out with joy and gladness. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid.”

I was thinking about the difference between hope and confidence. From some of the definitions I read, that difference seems to be in the level of optimism. Hope seems to spring up in more iffy situations. We’re not sure good can come from things as they are now, it might even be awful, but we hope that things can turn around. Confidence, on the other hand, is based on the surety that things went well the last time, or might even have gone well every time till now, so I can expect that they will go well this time, too, just like the hedgehog and the hognose snake. 

In the Gospel, when the people ask John the Baptist, “What should we do?” he tells them simply to do what you’re supposed to do, share with the people who are in need, be satisfied with what you have, take only what is just, be honest and truthful. 

For me the hard part is the “being unafraid.” Paul has the answer for that, too. He reminds us that God is near. 

“Have no anxiety at all, . . . but make your requests known to God. 

Then (and only then) the peace of God. . . 

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

It has worked before, and it’s worked till now. We can be confident and unafraid!