Daily Reflection for Monday, December 06, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120621.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Responsorial: Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
Gospel: Luke 5:17-26
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes to save you. Isaiah 35:4
Not only does Advent signal the preparation and celebration of the birth of Christ and the first Christmas, but also the anticipation of Christ’s second coming. In this the second week of Advent, the focus is on preparation, waiting and prophecy.
We have yet to see the fulfillment of some of the promises in the first reading. We have yet to see those whom the LORD has ransomed return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy. We have yet to see sorrow and mourning flee. On the contrary, we see a world morally depleted, driven by power and greed, and so divided that its people cannot even come together to attempt to save the very planet on which we live.
On a recent call with two of my long-time prayer partners, we were discussing the changes society has undergone since the 50’s. As the conversation progressed, we started reflecting on the world’s ever-growing dependence on technology. The son-in-law of one of my prayer partners is a senior officer in the military command that is responsible for the security of this nation’s satellites. Based on her knowledge of his mission, she offered some very scary scenarios about what would happen if the security of those satellites was compromised or if they were blasted out of orbit.
I, myself, can think of some scary scenarios, but that would be a waste of time. We don’t know what might happen. But we do know that God is as true to his Word now as he has always been. Christ was promised to us in the Garden of Eden, the seed of the woman that would crush the head of the serpent, who was Satan. The promise was fulfilled at his birth when he came with godly nature in human form to defeat Satan and his works, his principalities, and powers. He ended sin and abolished death. God kept his promise.
In today’s first reading God makes a promise to us whose hearts may be discouraged by the long delay of this prophecy’s fulfillment or to those who may be frightened by the “scary what ifs” of this present age:
Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes to save you!
God will keep this promise, too.
May the spirit of Advent enliven your faith and remain with you throughout the year. As St. Teresa of Calcutta says,” Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord."
Blessings, dear friends,
Melissa Kittrell