The following is the text of Deacon Stuart Neslin's talk with the students of Saint Mary's Catholic School during today's final Advent celebration before the semester ends. With an audience ranging from 3 to 13 years old – plus faculty and staff – Neslin blends in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy and the message of hope and the resolution that "Good triumphs over evil – it always has, it always will.'
"Advent is a Season of preparation, hope and joy. And yet today, looking at the empty manger in the Nativity Scene and reflecting on the evil that happened in that school in Connecticut last Friday, joy seems very far away. At a moment like this, the goodness of God seems very far away. And yet, in yesterday's readings we are assured: He is closer than we can possibly realize. The Lord is near; we will know the "good news." And especially at this time we remember the remarkable fact that, through his Son, God became us. He invested himself in humanity. He is with us at the best moments and yes, even at the worst moments.
"In the face of that unspeakable evil last Friday, God was present in the acts of bravery and courage and selflessness that we saw. And we are reminded that starting 2000 years ago and continuing to this day and beyond, one fact endures: Good triumphs over evil - - it always has; it always will.
"One of the most powerful themes in Sacred Scripture is that our God identifies with those who suffer. He is a father to the fatherless; if the poor are oppressed, He is oppressed; and as a father, God knows what it is to suffer loss; He knows what it means to lose a loved one through an act of evil, as we remember what happened on that hill in Calvary.
"But God knows what we need, and that is HOPE. And he has given that to us. We have been promised eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. And so we live in the hope of one day having the joy of seeing God face to face; and seeing in his reflected light those who we love. And while we wait, we are comforted and made to feel secure by knowing that evil can never triumph over good; that "God is with us always". O come o come Emanuel - - Emanuel being Hebrew for "God is with us".
"And while we wait, we prepare and we pray. We pray for our country; for our school; and for all those in the world who have suffered from acts of Evil. This day and each day forward, as we prepare for Christ's second coming, we will prepare in the best way possible - - we resolve to be just a little bit kinder, a little bit more forgiving, a little bit more at the service of those in need.
"We remember that we are called by our actions and our attitudes to be witnesses to Christ's love and mercy by being Children of the Light - - sharing the light of God's love and mercy with all those whom we encounter each day. The Lord is near; He walks with us; O Come O Come Emanuel - - God is with us. "
Stuart Neslin is a deacon and parish administrator at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Rome, Ga.
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