THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Send victory like a dew, you heavens,
and let the clouds rain it down.
Let the earth open and bring forth the savior. IS 45:8

ISAIAH 41:13-20

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Without Your help, we can do nothing. We need You and the more we are aware of this truth the more we will cling to You and turn to You to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Only when we realize that You alone have the power to save us and all our efforts are only chaff in the wind, will we receive the assurance that You will provide the grace and strength needed to live lives pleasing to You.

The prophet phrases it right when he says:

Do not be afraid, Jacob, poor worm,
Israel, puny mite.
I will help you – it is the Lord who speaks –
the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer.

It is only those who know that they are poor and needy whose thirst and hunger will be satisfied with living water and the bread of angels. When they call You will answer. You will take them by the hand and give them all that is needed to live grace-filled lives.

When we yield our life to You and embrace Your will in all things, will we bear good fruit and yield a plentiful harvest where once was only an arid and barren desert. We can be good and do good only when You walk with us and abide in us. 

PSALM 145:1, 9-13A

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The psalmist reminds us that we are to praise You and give You glory always, for You are our King and our Lord. This Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Your birth as we recall with great joy Your first coming into the world, let us not forget to be prepared always for Your coming again in glory and majesty.

We have the privilege of being baptized and have received the promise of a glorious destiny with You, but before we complete our course here on earth, we must fulfill the divine mandate to make You known and loved everywhere. You are our Lord, our God, our King, our Savior, and Redeemer. Songs of thanksgiving and praise for all You have done for us should fill our hearts always. Our response to Your great love for us is to always reflect the same love and compassion that You have shown us.

The door to heaven will be flung wide open to us, if we spend our whole life on earth spreading the Good News of salvation to the ends of the earth, so all creatures everywhere will believe in You and the One who sent You so all can be saved.

MATTHEW 11:11-15

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The pearl of great price and the treasure in the field can be ours only through self-denial, by giving up all that keeps us earth-bound, every desire that is not for God, and all affection for creatures or created things that keep us from loving God as we ought. This cannot be done without doing violence to ourselves. 

It is not easy to strip our affections for creatures and created things, for ease and comfort, and an inordinate attachment to family and friends. To do this one has to embrace the cross of self-denial. We must crucify our will, and be willing to be stripped of every attachment that is an obstacle to complete and total union with You.

St. John the Baptist, Your precursor, prepared the Way and pointed the Way to the Kingdom of God. In order to walk in it we have to heed his words, 'He must increase but I must decrease.' 

Today You challenge us saying, 'If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!’ May today be the day we hear and obey.