Nineteen.

Kingdom coming.

"We are celebrating Advent, expecting to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, his coming into the world and his proclaiming the way of God. Well, I think there are two things we can do. One is very clear. St. James tells us today, "Be patient my brothers and sisters. See how the soil waits for the precious fruits of the earth looking forward patiently to the autumn and spring rains. You also must be patient and do not lose heart because the Lord's coming is sure." So we must be patient.

Then, of course, Jesus invited each of us to become part of his community of disciples, so each of us has some responsibility for making that reign of God break forth where we are and what we do....

So we must try to connect with people in a loving, beautiful way. Not condemning. Not judging. Just loving, reaching out. Healing. Doing all that Jesus did. Giving the blind new sight. Setting the down trodden free. Proclaiming God's year of favor. Proclaiming good news to the poor. When all of us do that more seriously then wherever we are, the reign of God will be breaking forth."
~Bishop Thomas Gumbleton