Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Intention: That all people will embrace the story of the birth of the Christ Child as a time to increase our attention to the needs of children throughout the world.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 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.”
Reflection for the Second Wednesday of Advent
In the story of the Nativity, the birth of our Lord is followed by the arrival of people representing every kind of person and every corner of the earth. They all made a trek that they could not resist making, because somehow they knew that what awaited them would fill their deepest yearnings for solace, for truth, and for understanding. They would find a God who knew them, whose compassion for them was so complete that he would become one of them and be with them as a guide and also as a companion.
Musing on the birth of the Christ Child in his Advent reflection, God Is in the Manger, Dietrich Bonhoeffner wrote, “Only the humble believe him and rejoice that God is so free and so marvelous that he does wonders where people despair, that he takes what is little and lowly and makes it marvelous. And that is the wonder of all wonders, that God loves the lowly…. God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings.”
It is good to remember that, on that long ago holiest of nights, God’s salvation came not only to us, but to all creation. It is all of us and everything around us that God affirms as worthy of redemption. This cuts through all of the false and corrupted values that we placed on others and lifts up the reality that none are less than and none are greater than. Saint and sinner alike are loved and are awaited by God to choose to accept his invitation to take their places at his banquet. It is no coincidence that Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents and of visiting and welcoming others. Advent is a time for learning how to accept gifts and how to be good guests.
Prayer
Eternal Father, our work and responsibilities lie before us today and we look to you for help. If we try to go forward alone, we will stumble and fall. Be our light and our strength as we move through life’s challenges. May we find in your Word the nourishment to sustain us and the truth to reassure us. And in this Advent, just as you comfort and accompany us, make of us instruments of your comfort and compassion to others. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.