Have you ever heard voices? I have – I hear voices this Advent which are diverse – voices of pain, voices of suffering, voices of hope and voices of fulfillment. That’s just the way Advent is – filled with contradictions and extremes. We are in a season of paradox. Let us listen carefully to the voices of Advent; maybe they will help balance all the seeming contradictions and keep us poised to experience the transformation God has in mind for both us and for our world.

The voices we have just heard in today’s readings give us reason to be hopeful, confident, and joyful even in the midst of a world torn apart by war, violence and injustice. We hear the voice of the prophet, Baruch, who reminds us that “God is leading us in joy by the light of His glory, with mercy and justice for company.” Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, assures them and us that “God who began a good work in us will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” And, then we hear the thunderous voice of John the Baptist crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord and make straight His paths.” And he goes on with the prophecy of Isaiah that “... every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low... and all shall see the salvation of God.” John is a voice reminding us that the God we believe in is a faithful God who makes promises and keeps them.

In the midst of mountains tumbling, the Gospel consoles us with an image of a people gathered, fed, held close and led gently by a Messiah who speaks of compassion in a world thirsting for GOOD NEWS. In this season of Advent we are challenged to extend the compassion we have received, to celebrate in advance that time when our gracious God will wipe away the tears from all eyes and spread a feast that will satisfy the hungers of the human heart.

In our own time we still hear voices – voices that speak out for the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, and we thank God for their voice. Among these voices are the Women Religious of our country on whose behalf I come before you today. They have spoken and still speak more with their actions than with words. They must have heard the exhortation of St. Francis to “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.” They haveembraced the message of the Gospel and have responded courageously and faithfully in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned.

I would go so far as to say that I wonder where our Church in America would be today without these valiant women and their commitment often taken for granted. I suspect that many of you here can conjure up memories of Sisters who touched your lives and somehow you are better.

I am hardly an impartial voice for Women Religious and so I would

Like to share with you some thoughts from an article I read in COMMONWEAL Magazing by Luke Timothy Johnson, a leading American theologian.

He speaks fondly of Sr. Paulinus, a Dominican Sister who taught him in a very poor area of Jackson, Mississippi. I quote: “She taught us English, history, and the love of God with a distinctive combination of toughness and good humor. More than a half century later she still serves the Mississippi poor. Like so many women religious of her generation, she remains faithful to her calling even when the world in which she pledged her fidelity has shifted under her feet. Because she showed me the human face ofGod’s care in a time when I needed it more than I knew, she embodies for me the story of female religious orders in our country.

The story of women religious is one of remarkable courage, even heroism. These are the women who not only nursed the sick, but built and ran the hospitals and managed orphanages and schools. They brought the Word of God to remote areas, carried the Eucharist to isolated places and started and staffed schools in the unlikeliest and poorest urban slums. They overcame daunting obstacles, including some posed from the hierarchy.”

He goes on: “The caricature of neurotic nuns who specialized in corporal punishment and guilt crumbles before the countless examples who made a monumental difference in whether a child would eat, be safe or have any dignity at all. There is another side to this story, one of sadness and even shame. The sadness lies in their diminished numbers and resources and the shame lies in the failure of the Church to support them adequately. But there is nobility in the stories of women who still dedicate themselves in the most radical fashion to the truth of the triumph of the Resurrection. The story of American women religious is hardly finished; all of us who were blessed enough to have been formed by the Sisters continue to benefit from their service and sacrifice.”

I applaud Luke Johnson for this marvelous tribute. Each of us probably has our own, “Sister said...” story and many memories. Next weekend we have the opportunity to express our gratitude through our contribution to the RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS. I wonder if anyone knows that the average Social Security compensation for each Sister is $4000. a year! These women religious are not looking for glory and praise; but I think we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. And, in their name and in advance, I thank you.

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