Sr. Judy Morris ministers with Water with Blessings, a Louisville, KY, based-charity that provides technology and training to help women supply clean water to their communities.
We are sharing her reflections with you during this holiday season.
Reflections: Second Sunday of Advent 2022
Advent has been called the season of hope, promise, and expectation. In Isaiah 11, we are presented with the promise of One who is to come who will change the landscape of injustice and violence that persists: “…he shall judge the poor with justice and …justice shall be the band around his waist. He is the one who will also announce peace, … there will be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain.”
Many of us during this Advent season stand with hope for peace in our world and country. We are gifted with a voice that can influence others to take action for peace. We can be a peaceful influence on our neighbors and family members. Our voices for justice and peace stand in the shadow of Isaiah with the belief that we do not stand alone.
Water With Blessings has seen the hope of a few individuals with meager resources become a reality in Haiti. This poor country continues to suffer from conflict, crumbling infrastructure, and cholera. There, Water Women continue to receive the life-saving gift of water filters thanks to the efforts of donors, trainers, volunteers, and many others who believe that a committed group of people can make a difference.
Hope can bring the reality of new life and clean water to Haiti and around the world.
Reflections: First Sunday of Advent 2022
IAs the season of Advent begins, we are given another opportunity to slow down, focus, and pay attention to the present moment. That is not a simple decision with the everyday challenges of balancing work responsibilities, family engagements, health challenges or sudden events that interrupt our lives.
In the midst of these challenges, Jesus calls us in the Gospel reading from Matthew 24 to be alert. We need to pay attention to the present moment, be aware of the presence of God in our lives in every event or action. Situations may not change, but our ability to move through them can change. We are called to live focused lives rather than be passive.
The reading from Isaiah today has special meaning: “They shall beat swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation shall not lift a sword against another.”
If we are attentive to this challenge, we can ask ourselves: How can I be a messenger of peace in my family, in my workplace, in my church or neighborhood? When we offer words of encouragement we can neutralize conflict and misunderstandings. We begin with the belief that
it is possible and act.
We focus at Water With Blessings on what we can do to make a difference. While violence and unrest persist in Haiti, we can provide the life-saving gift of water filters to committed mothers facing unimaginable challenges. As Native Americans seek healthier lives amidst
environmental degradation, we can provide water filters in the Navajo Nation where clean water is often hard to find.
One day at a time, one word at a time, and one action at a time can enable peace to break into lives around us. May this season of Advent be a time of peaceful focus.
