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Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Isaiah 56:1-3A, 6-8
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
John 5:33-36
Summary
In the name of the Lord, Isaiah calls us to act rightly and justly; this includes keep-
ing the sacred Sabbath time free of profanation and holding to the Lord’s cove-
nant. Those who do so – the Lord will bring to his holy mountain, there to be
made joyful in prayer. The Psalmist prays for God’s pity and blessing and reveal-
ing his face to shine upon us so the Lord’s salvation shall become known to all na-
tions. Jesus, through John the Evangelist, proclaims that John the Baptist was a
“burning and shining lamp; yet Jesus works show he is greater than John because
the Father has sent him.
Reflection
A “burning and shining lamp” an image that illuminates Janet Harris, a Sister of
the Presentation for more than 65 years.
“Sister Janet has a preferential love for the marginal, and one of her most powerful
qualities is her yearning for justice, for the right things to happen,” said Javier
Stauring, former co-director of the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Restorative Justice
Ministry. Her order’s motto is “Non Vox Sed Votum,” that is, “not words but
deeds.” Her deeds reflect gifts of grace, gratitude, persuasion, and persistence;
growing and good are her deeds.
Years ago when teaching at Our Lady of Loretto High School, she earned her
“PhD on the streets” – persuading gang members who vandalized the school to
play on its fields every Saturday. In making her film about the 18th Street Gang
and the Temple Street Gang, she got to know members by observing, listening, un-
derstanding, and accepting them on their own terms, not imposing hers. When
she chose arrest rather than betrayal of one of them to the police, her “street
cred” was established. Later a gang counselor for the L.A. County Probation De-
partment, she moved on to Chaplain at Los An-
geles Central Juvenile Hall. There in 1997, she
co-founded a writing program, InsideOut, which
introduced juvenile offenders to the redeeming
power of art and self-expression. The program
continues.