By Beth DeCristofaro
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. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
….”it is not the will of
your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (Matthew 18:14)
Piety
O God, May I strive
to be the littlest of your little ones, never lost from you, O Lord.
Study
We recently
attended a wedding within a family we had not seen in more than 25 years. It was so exhilarating to reconnect with
friends and rejoice in the fruitful passage of time seen in children,
grandchildren, fulfilled hopes, rewarding careers, strength and perseverance
through troubles.
It was especially
gratifying to watch the kids be kids, reacting with wonder in their eyes at the
beauty of the bride, their dressed up uncles and aunts, the ceremony of the
nuptial Mass and later sliding about the dance floor with the adults.
We certainly don’t
live every day at the level of “wonder.”
Perhaps we might sense it more often, however, if we truly open our ears
and heart to Jesus’ words describing God’s love for us. If we allowed that love to touch us and
accept the wonder, would we not more naturally treat each other with the love
of neighbor that God requests of us? It
would be both usual and expected to walk in the awesome awareness of God’s love
which draws forth from us love for all God’s creatures. May this Advent allow us to be both present
to the passage of human time but also open to the mystery of God present within
and without human time.
Action
Read from Isaiah
inserting your own name instead of Jerusalem (below). What do you feel as you read God’s word
spoken to you, Beloved Child? Disbelief
that you “merit” such love? Incredulity
that these words are not meant for you, a modern woman/man? Irritation that you cannot accept such divine
potential? Lost in the desert of a dark
night? Hope that, indeed, God’s love
pervades your very being? Sadness? Joy?
Awe? Solace? Uncertainty?
If you find yourself blocked up,
seek to sense why. God loves you, Little
One.
Comfort, give comfort
to (Me), says (my) God. Speak tenderly to (your name) and proclaim to (me) that (my) service is at an end, (my)
guilt is expiated; Indeed, (I) have
received from the hand of the LORD double for all (my) sins.
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