Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Intention: That all people will hear in the story of the birth of the Christ Child the call to increase our attention to the needs of children throughout the world.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
A Reflection for the Second Tuesday of Advent
Throughout history, every age has seen its share of progress, of steps toward acquiring more knowledge about the intricacies of life. However, one of the things that we now know is that while knowledge may make us smarter, it does not necessarily make us wiser. With all that we have learned about the nuts and bolts of life, we still often fail to recognize their meaning and purpose. We tend to miss that the ordinary work of daily living is, in fact, the human side of the redemptive work of God. At times, we create rigid categories of sanctity and profanity that can result in us forgetting that God can bring truth and life out of even the most feeble of our worldly efforts. According to Dallas Willard, “Sometimes we get caught up in trying to glorify God by praising what He can do and we lose sight of the practical point of what He actually does do.” The time of Advent is a time to remember that, as Jesus taught, it is not what is on the outside that makes a thing unholy, but what we bring to it from within.
Prayer
Eternal Father, as we prepare during this Advent to celebrate the gift of our Lord, we remember how your gift came to us. In the simplicity of an ordinary place and time, you gave us your Son, who taught us how to live lives of compassion, mercy, and justice. Through your grace, we are empowered to do your will, giving of ourselves to the work of building your Kingdom. Grant that we might always embrace this gift with faith and zeal, with peace in our hearts and with goodwill to all. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.