December 6, 2020, 2nd week of Advent
Father Bill Kreutz, SJ
The Word
Reading 1 Prophet Isiah 40:1-5, 9-11
1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
2 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.
3 A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
4 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.
5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
9 Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings Cry out at the top of your voice: Here is your God!
10 Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his Reward with him, his recompense before him.
11 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.
A REFLECTION and PRAYER
How wonderful the words of encouragement – today’s first reading. We are all feeling a bit low – COVID 19 devastates us with such heavy news, bad news each day. Some, for sure, feel endangered and they are worried about their families and friends. Others carry the heavy burden of the many in the hospitals -doctors and nurses, laboratory and office staffand the many maintenance personnel and cleaners – all carry the burden.
This is a very hard time – we really need good news; Yet I am sitting here, thinking of bright lights and listening to beautiful choral Christmas music.
Is this the best that I can do – is this all I can do? I am not sure but like the Magi, I follow the Star. These bring peace and joy to my heart. Some say this is just romanticism, but I have a gift of faith, I believe; I am comforted by the words of the Profit Isaiah.
And I take heed to John the Baptist’s call to change my life – to be better in the spirit of the Lord – for others. Can I bring comfort and joy to others? a telephone or video chat, a greeting, an email – with some beautiful pictures attached; a kind thought, a prayer; a forgiveness in my heart for those who have hurt me – and a prayer for them.
Using the style of Ignatian imagination:
- I close my eyes and imagine myself walking through the wards of a crowded hospital
- I stop at one bed and another and talk for a few moments with the poor patient, perhaps an old person, a young mother, a crying child; and with each I pray to Jesus for healing and comfort and a Hail Mary.
You may also want to use this method:
Walking along the street and encountering many beggars who are in need; a little girl selling flower: can I visit a poor family with only a simple parol hanging at the door, no Belen. What do I say to these people – what do I do?
This is my offering, my time – taking time in prayer for others
I really don’t know how it works – but Jesus does –
A personal response to John’s call for change –
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Scripture from the New American Bible, Images from Google Images
