MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT - 2023

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

See, the king, the Lord of the world, will come.
He will free us from the yoke of our bondage.

ISAIAH 35:1-10 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Thank You for the consolation that Your Word from the prophet Isaiah brings to me this day. As we prepare to celebrate Your birth, my Lord, we are reminded of what God has done for us. How good is Your Father, that He loved us even while we were yet sinners and He sent You into the world to become one like us in all things save sin so He could redeem us and restore all that sin and evil had stolen from us, which is life in Him. Thank You, Beloved, for not leaving us orphans but sending Your Holy Spirit to abide in us and to be our Helper and our Paraclete. Thank You, Lord, for interceding for us unceasingly before the Father who will surely hear and answer You.

I am weak Lord, and I am fearful. My faith is like a bruised reed and a flickering wick but I have Your assurance that You will not permit me to be crushed or to let my light be put out. As I make pitiful intercession to You O Lord night and day for the salvation of those I love, I am confident that You will hear and answer me and grant me my heart's desires for this prayer is in line with the will of God. Let me never lose heart Beloved but may I pray boldly because I know that You always hear the prayers of Your little ones. 

Strengthen all weary hands,
steady all trembling knees
and say to all faint hearts,
‘Courage! Do not be afraid.

‘Look, your God is coming,
vengeance is coming,
the retribution of God;
he is coming to save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
the ears of the deaf unsealed,
then the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy;

They will come to Zion shouting for joy,

everlasting joy on their faces;
joy and gladness will go with them
and sorrow and lament be ended.

PSALM 84(85):9-14 ©

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.

Look, our God is coming to save us.

LUKE 5:17-26 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

People approach You for various reasons some out of love, others because they have a genuine need and they hope that You will give them what they desire, or perhaps just out of curiosity having heard someone testifying and witnessing to the power of Your word or they were healed or know someone who experienced healing, or perhaps because a relative or friend brought them along. 

Today's Gospel taken from Luke speaks of just such an occasion. A motley crowd filled the room to capacity and all came from different parts of the area to listen to You teach. Pharisees and doctors of the Law also formed part of the crowd just as eager to hear You even though their reasons may have been suspect. Suddenly there was a commotion people were trying to make their way to You carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher but found it impossible to push their way through the crowd they decided to open part of the roof and lower him down. These men were determined to get their friend to You confident that You could do something to help him.

Affection for their friend brought him before You. Their faith in You wrought the miracle. The first miracle was of greater significance - addressing the paralytic You said,  ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ The crowd did not seem overly concerned but the Pharisees were in a tizzy thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this man talking blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Knowing their thoughts You now address them, ‘What are these thoughts you have in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven you” or to say, “Get up and walk”? For human beings both are impossible and You proved to the entire crowd that You are God by demonstrating to them all and in particular to the Pharisees that You indeed had authority on earth to forgive sins, You said to the paralyzed man – ‘I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God. They were all astounded and praised God, and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’

Beloved, You are always at work in our lives sometimes the miracles are great and unmistakable but often the small miracles of our just being alive and sustained by Your love are taken for granted. Today Lord, I want to thank You for the miracle of just being alive and the miracle and wonder of my faith in You, in the Church, and the confidence that I am loved by God who created me for joy in this life and eternal joy with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit in the company of all the angels and saints eternally.