Reading 1 Is 40:25-31
To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God?"
Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles' wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 And 10
R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Gospel Mt 11:28-30
Jesus said to the crowds:
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Meditation: 7 Matthew 11:28-30
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“Come to me.” (Matthew 11:28)
You’re expecting a baby, and you worry about being a good parent. You’re a senior citizen, living someplace you’d rather not and feeling useless and forgotten. Your arthritis is no joke.
You’re a stressed business professional. You seize on all the latest technology to get better connected and more efficient. But often, faced with a slew of e-mail, voicemail, texts, tweets, postings, podcasts, and “friend” requests, you feel weary.
You’ve been unemployed for nearly two years. At night you wake up and wonder, “Will we lose the house?” You made a hard decision that cost you some friends. It was the right thing to do, and you don’t regret your stand. But it’s a lonely place to be.
So many types of burdens, so much stress—we could all add our own examples to the list. So, too, could the people who first heard Jesus’ invitation in today’s Gospel. As a group, they were weighed down by the heavy yoke of religious extras imposed by the scribes and Pharisees who had made the Mosaic law an insufferable burden. They lived under the thumb of the Roman Empire too, and eked out a living as best they could. And as individuals, they labored under their own particular mix of the burdens we know only too well: sickness, fear, sin, guilt, difficult relationships, or addictions.
So take a few minutes and in your imagination join this weary, needy crowd. Picture yourself there among them with your own burdens. See the look of love on the face of Jesus as his gaze sweeps over you.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That’s you he is speaking to. He knows your problems and your struggles, your suffering and your stress. And he wants to give you rest and relief by drawing you into his presence. That’s the mission he was born for.
So come to Jesus often this Advent. Turn off your phone, computer, and anxious thoughts. Create a quiet space where you can speak to him from the heart. Then be still—and receive the Christmas gift of himself.
“Jesus, I come to you. Let it be done to me according to your word.”
06 December 2011
06 Dec 2011, Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Reading 1 Is 40:1-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
A voice says, "Cry out!"
I answer, "What shall I cry out?"
"All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever."
Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2, 3 And 10ac, 11-12, 13
R. (see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Gospel Mt 18:12-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."
Meditation: Matthew 18:12-14
“Will he not … go in search of the stray?” (Matthew 18:12)
Being a shepherd in first-century Israel was not as simple as just standing around holding a staff. The shepherd put himself in danger, especially when venturing out after a stray sheep. He was in the wilderness all alone at the mercy of the elements. He might have encountered ravenous wolves or armed thieves. Whereas a hired hand would run away at the first sign of danger, the shepherd of a family flock risked his life—just to get one single stray sheep back!
Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:14-15). He left the comfort and safety of heaven to seek us out and bring us home. And it was a very perilous journey, too! From Herod’s murderous paranoia to Judas’ bitter betrayal to the agony of death on the cross, Jesus put himself in danger and endured great hardship. Yet he never abandoned his post. He never complained about his calling. He did it all out of love—love for you.
In his inaugural homily as pope, Benedict XVI told us: “The human race—every one of us—is the sheep lost in the desert which no longer knows the way. The Son of God will not let this happen; he cannot abandon humanity in so wretched a condition. He leaps to his feet and abandons the glory of heaven, in order to go in search of the sheep and pursue it, all the way to the cross. He takes it upon his shoulders and carries our humanity; he carries us all.”
Every day, your Creator seeks you out because he places such a high value on you. Every day, he wants to lead you and protect you. Every day, he wants to guide you and show you the way to go. You are so important to him that he will not stop helping you until you are safe with him in heaven.
So rejoice in your salvation today. Spend your prayer time today thanking and praising your Good Shepherd for laying down his life for you. It wasn’t easy—but you are worth it!
“Jesus, how can you love me so much? Thank you for leaving your heavenly throne to find me and carry me back home!”
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
A voice says, "Cry out!"
I answer, "What shall I cry out?"
"All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever."
Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2, 3 And 10ac, 11-12, 13
R. (see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Gospel Mt 18:12-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."
Meditation: Matthew 18:12-14
“Will he not … go in search of the stray?” (Matthew 18:12)
Being a shepherd in first-century Israel was not as simple as just standing around holding a staff. The shepherd put himself in danger, especially when venturing out after a stray sheep. He was in the wilderness all alone at the mercy of the elements. He might have encountered ravenous wolves or armed thieves. Whereas a hired hand would run away at the first sign of danger, the shepherd of a family flock risked his life—just to get one single stray sheep back!
Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:14-15). He left the comfort and safety of heaven to seek us out and bring us home. And it was a very perilous journey, too! From Herod’s murderous paranoia to Judas’ bitter betrayal to the agony of death on the cross, Jesus put himself in danger and endured great hardship. Yet he never abandoned his post. He never complained about his calling. He did it all out of love—love for you.
In his inaugural homily as pope, Benedict XVI told us: “The human race—every one of us—is the sheep lost in the desert which no longer knows the way. The Son of God will not let this happen; he cannot abandon humanity in so wretched a condition. He leaps to his feet and abandons the glory of heaven, in order to go in search of the sheep and pursue it, all the way to the cross. He takes it upon his shoulders and carries our humanity; he carries us all.”
Every day, your Creator seeks you out because he places such a high value on you. Every day, he wants to lead you and protect you. Every day, he wants to guide you and show you the way to go. You are so important to him that he will not stop helping you until you are safe with him in heaven.
So rejoice in your salvation today. Spend your prayer time today thanking and praising your Good Shepherd for laying down his life for you. It wasn’t easy—but you are worth it!
“Jesus, how can you love me so much? Thank you for leaving your heavenly throne to find me and carry me back home!”
04 December 2011
05 Dec 2011, Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Reading 1 Is 35:1-10
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab And 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 35:4f) Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
Gospel Lk 5:17-26
One day as Jesus was teaching,
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
"As for you, your sins are forgiven."
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
"Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
"What are you thinking in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins?"
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
"We have seen incredible things today."
Meditation: Isaiah 35:1-10
“A highway will be there, called the holy way.” (Isaiah 35:8)
Wouldn’t you love to live in a city where you could get on the highway without worrying about any traffic, any road rage, or any accidents? Well, there is good news for you! In today’s first reading, Isaiah gives us a glorious vision of a highway, called the “holy way,” that has been cleared of all obstacles or disruptions. This heavenly road was cleared for us two thousand years ago when God sent his only Son to dwell among us.
Jesus cleared the way and paved a path for us that is filled with abundance, gladness, and joy. He has removed every obstacle that could hinder us from receiving God’s love. Not only did he destroy the sting of death, he removed the chains of sin that hold us back. And not only did Jesus make a way for us, he made the destination so much clearer. He showed us heaven as our true inheritance. He showed us, too, that we don’t have to wait until we die to experience heaven. Every step along the way to heaven can become heaven as well!
During this season of Advent, Jesus invites us to fix our eyes on him. He is watching over every step we take, protecting and guiding us. The road may feel too hard or too long at times. We may feel unworthy of God’s love or protection. Or the memory of past hurts or disappointments may lead us to doubt God’s presence in our lives. But we should never let these thoughts divert our gaze from the Lord. Acts of faith— even stubborn faith that seems to defy logic—can help keep us moving forward on the road.
What should we place our faith in? First and foremost, that Jesus is always with us and that he always loves us. And after that, we can place our faith in his promise to redeem everyone who calls on him. Just one step forward in faith will lead to another. And then another. And then another. And with each step, we will feel more and more of his love in our hearts!
“Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you this Advent. I want to keep walking on the path—the holy way—that you have set before me.”
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab And 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 35:4f) Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
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. Our God will come to save us!
Gospel Lk 5:17-26
One day as Jesus was teaching,
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
"As for you, your sins are forgiven."
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
"Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
"What are you thinking in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins?"
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
"We have seen incredible things today."
Meditation: Isaiah 35:1-10
“A highway will be there, called the holy way.” (Isaiah 35:8)
Wouldn’t you love to live in a city where you could get on the highway without worrying about any traffic, any road rage, or any accidents? Well, there is good news for you! In today’s first reading, Isaiah gives us a glorious vision of a highway, called the “holy way,” that has been cleared of all obstacles or disruptions. This heavenly road was cleared for us two thousand years ago when God sent his only Son to dwell among us.
Jesus cleared the way and paved a path for us that is filled with abundance, gladness, and joy. He has removed every obstacle that could hinder us from receiving God’s love. Not only did he destroy the sting of death, he removed the chains of sin that hold us back. And not only did Jesus make a way for us, he made the destination so much clearer. He showed us heaven as our true inheritance. He showed us, too, that we don’t have to wait until we die to experience heaven. Every step along the way to heaven can become heaven as well!
During this season of Advent, Jesus invites us to fix our eyes on him. He is watching over every step we take, protecting and guiding us. The road may feel too hard or too long at times. We may feel unworthy of God’s love or protection. Or the memory of past hurts or disappointments may lead us to doubt God’s presence in our lives. But we should never let these thoughts divert our gaze from the Lord. Acts of faith— even stubborn faith that seems to defy logic—can help keep us moving forward on the road.
What should we place our faith in? First and foremost, that Jesus is always with us and that he always loves us. And after that, we can place our faith in his promise to redeem everyone who calls on him. Just one step forward in faith will lead to another. And then another. And then another. And with each step, we will feel more and more of his love in our hearts!
“Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you this Advent. I want to keep walking on the path—the holy way—that you have set before me.”
04 Dec 2011, Second Sunday of Advent
Reading 1 Is 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
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. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
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. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Reading 2 2 Pt 3:8-14
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay,"
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
Gospel Mk 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths."
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Meditation: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
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“Comfort, give comfort to my people.” (Isaiah 40:1)
The people of Israel were in crisis. Their Temple in Jerusalem had been burned to the ground. Their king had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And most of the population had been forced out of their homes and sent into exile. Everything they treasured about their role as God’s holy people was taken away from them, and it left them traumatized, distressed, and despairing.
Into this sad situation, God told his prophet to speak words of comfort and tenderness to his people. Don’t be afraid! The Lord is coming! He’s going to gather you all together, as a shepherd gathers his sheep, and bring you back home. So get ready to welcome him and his deliverance.
Like the Israelites, we all need comfort from God. None of us is free from the sadness that can come from life in this world. It could be the pain of an illness, the wound from a broken relationship, or the challenge of unemployment or financial stress.
No matter what we are facing, God wants to comfort us. He wants to speak tenderly to our hearts and tell us that he is with us. And more than anything else, he wants to tell us that Jesus, who is “God with us,” has opened heaven for us. We don’t have to endure our challenges on our own. We don’t have to go through this life doing nothing but trying our best and hoping for better days. We have access to the grace and comfort, the power and wisdom, of God himself!
So no matter how difficult or demanding life may seem, let these truths bring you comfort. Remember that nothing prevented Jesus from coming two thousand years ago and that nothing will prevent him from coming again to bring heaven down to earth. And finally, remember that even as we wait for that time, nothing can prevent Jesus from coming into our hearts right now and comforting us with his love.
“Lord, I need your comfort. Fill me with your joy and peace. Teach me how to open my heart to you. Jesus, I love you!”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8)
1. In the beginning of the first reading, we hear these words, “Comfort. Comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). In what ways do these words reflect the Lord’s great love and mercy toward Israel? How was this “comfort,” which was foretold by John the Baptist, fulfilled in Jesus Christ? What is the “comfort” God is offering his people and each of us during this grace-filled Advent season?
2. What do these words from the responsorial psalm mean (or symbolize) in light of the coming of Christ? “Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and truth shall kiss” (Psalm 85:11). Many papal teaching have been focused on charity and justice as the way to “peace.” As we reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, during this Advent Season, what specifically can you do to help restore justice and peace within your family, or among family members — for example, in any relationships that have gone sour?
3. The second reading exhorts us to live holy lives with these words, “What sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12). Why do you think the author believed living holy lives would cause a hastening of the coming of Christ? What small steps or religious practices can you adopt this Advent in order to live “lives of holiness and godliness”?
4. The Gospel reading speaks of preparing the way of the Lord. What can you do this Advent/Christmas season to help your family, your friends, or your co-workers receive Christ, or deepen their relationship with him?
5. In the Gospel, St. John the Baptist also proclaims the need for repentance and forgiveness of sins. Make a commitment to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Advent/Christmas season. What are some ways that you and your family can prepare for it, so that you and they will experience more deeply the Lord’s forgiveness of sins?
6. In today’s meditation, we hear these words: “None of us is free from the sadness that can come from life in this world. It could be the pain of an illness, the wound from a broken relationship, or the challenge of unemployment or financial stress.” In spite of these pains, wounds, and challenges, the meditation goes on to say that “No matter what we are facing, God wants to comfort us.” How can you open yourself in a greater way to God’s comfort?
7. Take some time now to pray that this Advent would be a special time of grace for you and your family - a time to experience the Lord’s, comfort, joy, and peace. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
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. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
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. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Reading 2 2 Pt 3:8-14
Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay,"
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
Gospel Mk 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths."
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Meditation: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
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“Comfort, give comfort to my people.” (Isaiah 40:1)
The people of Israel were in crisis. Their Temple in Jerusalem had been burned to the ground. Their king had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And most of the population had been forced out of their homes and sent into exile. Everything they treasured about their role as God’s holy people was taken away from them, and it left them traumatized, distressed, and despairing.
Into this sad situation, God told his prophet to speak words of comfort and tenderness to his people. Don’t be afraid! The Lord is coming! He’s going to gather you all together, as a shepherd gathers his sheep, and bring you back home. So get ready to welcome him and his deliverance.
Like the Israelites, we all need comfort from God. None of us is free from the sadness that can come from life in this world. It could be the pain of an illness, the wound from a broken relationship, or the challenge of unemployment or financial stress.
No matter what we are facing, God wants to comfort us. He wants to speak tenderly to our hearts and tell us that he is with us. And more than anything else, he wants to tell us that Jesus, who is “God with us,” has opened heaven for us. We don’t have to endure our challenges on our own. We don’t have to go through this life doing nothing but trying our best and hoping for better days. We have access to the grace and comfort, the power and wisdom, of God himself!
So no matter how difficult or demanding life may seem, let these truths bring you comfort. Remember that nothing prevented Jesus from coming two thousand years ago and that nothing will prevent him from coming again to bring heaven down to earth. And finally, remember that even as we wait for that time, nothing can prevent Jesus from coming into our hearts right now and comforting us with his love.
“Lord, I need your comfort. Fill me with your joy and peace. Teach me how to open my heart to you. Jesus, I love you!”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8)
1. In the beginning of the first reading, we hear these words, “Comfort. Comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). In what ways do these words reflect the Lord’s great love and mercy toward Israel? How was this “comfort,” which was foretold by John the Baptist, fulfilled in Jesus Christ? What is the “comfort” God is offering his people and each of us during this grace-filled Advent season?
2. What do these words from the responsorial psalm mean (or symbolize) in light of the coming of Christ? “Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and truth shall kiss” (Psalm 85:11). Many papal teaching have been focused on charity and justice as the way to “peace.” As we reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, during this Advent Season, what specifically can you do to help restore justice and peace within your family, or among family members — for example, in any relationships that have gone sour?
3. The second reading exhorts us to live holy lives with these words, “What sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12). Why do you think the author believed living holy lives would cause a hastening of the coming of Christ? What small steps or religious practices can you adopt this Advent in order to live “lives of holiness and godliness”?
4. The Gospel reading speaks of preparing the way of the Lord. What can you do this Advent/Christmas season to help your family, your friends, or your co-workers receive Christ, or deepen their relationship with him?
5. In the Gospel, St. John the Baptist also proclaims the need for repentance and forgiveness of sins. Make a commitment to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Advent/Christmas season. What are some ways that you and your family can prepare for it, so that you and they will experience more deeply the Lord’s forgiveness of sins?
6. In today’s meditation, we hear these words: “None of us is free from the sadness that can come from life in this world. It could be the pain of an illness, the wound from a broken relationship, or the challenge of unemployment or financial stress.” In spite of these pains, wounds, and challenges, the meditation goes on to say that “No matter what we are facing, God wants to comfort us.” How can you open yourself in a greater way to God’s comfort?
7. Take some time now to pray that this Advent would be a special time of grace for you and your family - a time to experience the Lord’s, comfort, joy, and peace. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
03 December 2011
03 Dec 2011, Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest
Reading 1 Is 30:19-21, 23-26
Thus says the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
"This is the way; walk in it,"
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
He will give rain for the seed
that you sow in the ground,
And the wheat that the soil produces
will be rich and abundant.
On that day your flock will be given pasture
and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;
The oxen and the asses that till the ground
will eat silage tossed to them
with shovel and pitchfork.
Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
there will be streams of running water.
On the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall,
The light of the moon will be like that of the sun
and the light of the sun will be seven times greater
like the light of seven days.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Gospel Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Meditation: Matthew 9:35–10:1,6-8
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)
Advent is something of a contradiction in terms. It is a time of receiving and welcoming the Lord into our hearts, but it is also a time to give away what we have freely received from the Lord.
It is this pattern of divine exchange that we find in the two groups of people Jesus addressed in today’s Gospel. The first group received the gifts of his teaching and miracles. Jesus saw their neediness and had compassion on them. He couldn’t stay away from them but spent all his time ministering to their needs (Matthew 9:35-36).
But there was a second group— the people who knew him best and who had already received his gospel. To these, his closest friends, he gave the command: “Go … to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). He sent them out to proclaim the good news and do the work of the kingdom of heaven themselves.
Instead of trying to figure out which of these two groups we belong to, let’s accept that we really belong to both. On the one hand, we all need deeper healing. We all need to learn the gospel message more clearly. We all have areas of sin that need to be addressed and forgiven. So we all need to spend time with Jesus, letting him minister to our wounds and fill us with his grace.
But on the other hand, we all have much that we can offer to other people. How often during this time of year do you hear people talking about how lonely they are or how guilty they feel about some poor decisions they made? It is to these that we can offer whatever we have already received from the Lord. Maybe they need nothing more than a friendly word of encouragement. But maybe they need to hear about how much the Lord can work in their lives. None of us is too “new” in the faith to begin giving away what we have.
Brothers and sisters, we serve a generous God. So let’s be just as generous, freely giving what we have freely received!
“Lord, touch everyone searching for you. Use me to show others your abundant love and to lead them to the grace of a new life in you.”
Thus says the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
"This is the way; walk in it,"
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
He will give rain for the seed
that you sow in the ground,
And the wheat that the soil produces
will be rich and abundant.
On that day your flock will be given pasture
and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows;
The oxen and the asses that till the ground
will eat silage tossed to them
with shovel and pitchfork.
Upon every high mountain and lofty hill
there will be streams of running water.
On the day of the great slaughter,
when the towers fall,
The light of the moon will be like that of the sun
and the light of the sun will be seven times greater
like the light of seven days.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people,
he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Gospel Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."
Meditation: Matthew 9:35–10:1,6-8
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)
Advent is something of a contradiction in terms. It is a time of receiving and welcoming the Lord into our hearts, but it is also a time to give away what we have freely received from the Lord.
It is this pattern of divine exchange that we find in the two groups of people Jesus addressed in today’s Gospel. The first group received the gifts of his teaching and miracles. Jesus saw their neediness and had compassion on them. He couldn’t stay away from them but spent all his time ministering to their needs (Matthew 9:35-36).
But there was a second group— the people who knew him best and who had already received his gospel. To these, his closest friends, he gave the command: “Go … to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). He sent them out to proclaim the good news and do the work of the kingdom of heaven themselves.
Instead of trying to figure out which of these two groups we belong to, let’s accept that we really belong to both. On the one hand, we all need deeper healing. We all need to learn the gospel message more clearly. We all have areas of sin that need to be addressed and forgiven. So we all need to spend time with Jesus, letting him minister to our wounds and fill us with his grace.
But on the other hand, we all have much that we can offer to other people. How often during this time of year do you hear people talking about how lonely they are or how guilty they feel about some poor decisions they made? It is to these that we can offer whatever we have already received from the Lord. Maybe they need nothing more than a friendly word of encouragement. But maybe they need to hear about how much the Lord can work in their lives. None of us is too “new” in the faith to begin giving away what we have.
Brothers and sisters, we serve a generous God. So let’s be just as generous, freely giving what we have freely received!
“Lord, touch everyone searching for you. Use me to show others your abundant love and to lead them to the grace of a new life in you.”
02 December 2011
02 Dec 2011, Friday of the First Week of Advent
Reading 1 Is 29:17-24
Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Gospel Mt 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
"Son of David, have pity on us!"
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
"Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
"See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
Meditation: Isaiah 29:17-24
“On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Isaiah 29:18)
In his poetic description of the glorious future awaiting Israel, the prophet Isaiah announced that the “tyrant” would be no more and that the “arrogant” would cease to be. He went on to say that Jacob would have no reason to be ashamed (Isaiah 29:20,22). What a sense of hope this must have given the people of Jerusalem!
But who is this tyrant and scoffer? None other than the devil. The Hebrew name Satan means an adversary or accuser, as in the “accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:10). He is the enemy who wants to keep us bound in guilt and shame. He is the accuser who wants to prevent us from taking hold of the freedom that Jesus came to give us.
The good news is that the future that Isaiah saw is now. By reconciling us with God, Jesus has defeated the devil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins” (CCC, 457). Later on, the Catechism quotes St. Ambrose in a similar vein: “The Lord who has taken away your sin and pardoned your faults also protects you and keeps you from the wiles of your adversary the devil… . One who entrusts himself to God does not dread the devil” (2852).
In his love, God has remembered us. In his mercy, he has redeemed us. We are safe when we trust in Jesus and fix our eyes on him: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Satan knows that all he has left is his voice to try to turn us away from God. He knows that his days are numbered. We don’t have to live under his accusations! We don’t have to live with the guilt and shame of our past sins. As Isaiah wrote, we have no reason to be ashamed. And where there is no shame, the way to God is opened wide.
“Thank you, Jesus, for having won my redemption! Thank you for pardoning my sins and removing the guilt and shame that have weighed so heavily upon me!”
Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Gospel Mt 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
"Son of David, have pity on us!"
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
"Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
"See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
Meditation: Isaiah 29:17-24
“On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” (Isaiah 29:18)
In his poetic description of the glorious future awaiting Israel, the prophet Isaiah announced that the “tyrant” would be no more and that the “arrogant” would cease to be. He went on to say that Jacob would have no reason to be ashamed (Isaiah 29:20,22). What a sense of hope this must have given the people of Jerusalem!
But who is this tyrant and scoffer? None other than the devil. The Hebrew name Satan means an adversary or accuser, as in the “accuser of our brothers” (Revelation 12:10). He is the enemy who wants to keep us bound in guilt and shame. He is the accuser who wants to prevent us from taking hold of the freedom that Jesus came to give us.
The good news is that the future that Isaiah saw is now. By reconciling us with God, Jesus has defeated the devil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins” (CCC, 457). Later on, the Catechism quotes St. Ambrose in a similar vein: “The Lord who has taken away your sin and pardoned your faults also protects you and keeps you from the wiles of your adversary the devil… . One who entrusts himself to God does not dread the devil” (2852).
In his love, God has remembered us. In his mercy, he has redeemed us. We are safe when we trust in Jesus and fix our eyes on him: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Satan knows that all he has left is his voice to try to turn us away from God. He knows that his days are numbered. We don’t have to live under his accusations! We don’t have to live with the guilt and shame of our past sins. As Isaiah wrote, we have no reason to be ashamed. And where there is no shame, the way to God is opened wide.
“Thank you, Jesus, for having won my redemption! Thank you for pardoning my sins and removing the guilt and shame that have weighed so heavily upon me!”
01 Dec 2011, Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading 1 Is 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1 And 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
Meditation: Matthew 7:21,24-27
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“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
We are all familiar with the saying that talk is cheap. We all know that not everyone who says, “Jesus is Lord” can back up this statement by the way he or she lives. In fact, none of us is capable of living out this truth every moment of every day.
So what hope do we have of entering Jesus’ kingdom, if our words are not enough? Lots of hope! We need to remember Jesus has given us many tools to help us build our spiritual house on a solid foundation—tools that will enable us to live out the words we say in the creed.
First and foremost, he has given us the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, which cleanse us of original sin and fill us with the gifts of the Spirit. Second, he has given us the Scriptures and the teachings of the church, which are the “blueprints” for our spiritual house. We also have the gift of the Eucharist, Jesus’ own body and blood, to fill us with his life and strengthen our hearts for the calling God has for us.
With all these gifts, you would think that building our house on the solid rock of Jesus’ word would be easy. But we know that’s not always true. Temptation is never far away, and we sometimes give in. When this happens, our spiritual house can become weakened or fall into disrepair. If it happens too often, we risk seeing our house collapse altogether.
What a good thing, then, that Jesus has also given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which can help repair our spiritual foundation. The Sacrament of Confession can be a wonderfully freeing experience! Laying your sins at the foot of the cross, you can find yourself refreshed and renewed. Hearing words of forgiveness and consolation from your confessor, you can find the strength and encouragement to get back to building your life on the most reliable and trustworthy foundation ever: Jesus himself. So try to receive the sacrament before Christmas, and see what God does in your heart as a result.
“Jesus, give me the courage to make a good confession this Advent. I don’t want to build my spiritual house on the shifting sands of this world’s empty promises. I want to build on you, my true rock and my true Lord.”
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1 And 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
Meditation: Matthew 7:21,24-27
Article Tools
Text Size
Print-Friendly
Email this article
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
We are all familiar with the saying that talk is cheap. We all know that not everyone who says, “Jesus is Lord” can back up this statement by the way he or she lives. In fact, none of us is capable of living out this truth every moment of every day.
So what hope do we have of entering Jesus’ kingdom, if our words are not enough? Lots of hope! We need to remember Jesus has given us many tools to help us build our spiritual house on a solid foundation—tools that will enable us to live out the words we say in the creed.
First and foremost, he has given us the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, which cleanse us of original sin and fill us with the gifts of the Spirit. Second, he has given us the Scriptures and the teachings of the church, which are the “blueprints” for our spiritual house. We also have the gift of the Eucharist, Jesus’ own body and blood, to fill us with his life and strengthen our hearts for the calling God has for us.
With all these gifts, you would think that building our house on the solid rock of Jesus’ word would be easy. But we know that’s not always true. Temptation is never far away, and we sometimes give in. When this happens, our spiritual house can become weakened or fall into disrepair. If it happens too often, we risk seeing our house collapse altogether.
What a good thing, then, that Jesus has also given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which can help repair our spiritual foundation. The Sacrament of Confession can be a wonderfully freeing experience! Laying your sins at the foot of the cross, you can find yourself refreshed and renewed. Hearing words of forgiveness and consolation from your confessor, you can find the strength and encouragement to get back to building your life on the most reliable and trustworthy foundation ever: Jesus himself. So try to receive the sacrament before Christmas, and see what God does in your heart as a result.
“Jesus, give me the courage to make a good confession this Advent. I don’t want to build my spiritual house on the shifting sands of this world’s empty promises. I want to build on you, my true rock and my true Lord.”
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