15 Dec 2010, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1
Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25

I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.

For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.

Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel.”

Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 Responsorial Psalm
R. (Isaiah 45:8)

Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

Gospel
Lk 7:18b-23

At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Meditation: Luke 7:18-23

“Are you the one who is to come?” (Luke 7:19)

Nothing could compare to the excitement generated by the miracles, signs, and wonders breaking out in Israel during the time of Jesus’ public ministry! So much was happening that John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to Jesus to find out if this was “it.” How full of anticipation and excitement these two disciples must have felt as they sought out Jesus to see for themselves everything that he was doing!

In a similar way, Advent is a special time when we can heighten our own sense of excitement and anticipation of Jesus’ coming again in glory. But beyond the hope of a future salvation, we can also become more excited over the promise of his coming into our hearts each and every time we approach him in prayer or at Mass.

Imagine how much fuller our experience of his gospel would be if, every time we came to Jesus, we asked questions like: What do you want to do in my life today, Jesus? How will you answer my prayers? What new insights will you grant me today? How will I experience your love, glory, or mercy this time? Questions like these may make us sound greedy, but only if we lose sense of how needy we are.

Today is as good as any day to look for this heightened sense of anticipation and excitement about your relationship with the Lord. Seek him eagerly today. Ask him to show you the hidden ways in which he is acting in your life and in the lives of those you love. Over and over again, the Gospels tell us how pleased Jesus is when people approach him with a lively and expectant faith. Trust him. He is always good and merciful. Let him know how much you enjoy his company and the wonders he is working in you and around you. Don’t be afraid to look for—and expect—more! Jesus is exceedingly generous and he has an infinite store of grace and blessings set aside specifically for you!

“Lord, I come to you with joy and excitement today. How will you reveal your wonders in my life today? I surrender to you. Come and do whatever you want to do to deepen my faith in you!”

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]