Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Intention: That all people will embrace the story of the birth of the Christ Child as a call 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.”
A Reflection for the Second Wednesday of Advent
In the story of the Nativity, the birth of our Lord is followed by the unexpected arrival of people who all felt compelled to follow a new star in the sky as it led them to the promise of something wonderful. And while they represented humanity in all of its diversity, they somehow were all very much the same in one respect. Rich, poor, native, foreigner, in gowns, in rags, they all came in the same spirit of simplicity and awe. Musing on this, Dietrich Bonhoeffner wrote, “Only the humble believe 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.” To be redeemed as God’s people is to reclaim our sacred identity: that we are all made in his image and likeness, expressions and instruments of the same eternal love. Advent is a time for humility as we leave behind our differences and join our brothers and sisters to approach the manger as one.
Prayer
Eternal Father, another day of our journey lies before us and we look for your guidance. If we try to go forward on our own, we will become lost. We pray, be our light and our strength as we move through life’s challenges. May we find in your Word encouragement to sustain us and truth to enlighten us. In this Advent, help us to discover how to be a people of limitless faith and hope. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.