MONDAY DECEMBER 4, 2023
MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT YR B
Isaiah 2:1-5
Matthew 8:5-11
A TIME FOR PERSONAL INTROSPECTION
We begin a season of self examination, with direct introspection into our lives. It is a season of preparation that calls us to look at our lives again and evaluate for ourselves where we stand, what we are doing, our level of faith in the word incarnate, our loyalty to him and our life in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah the prophet calls us to drop our weapons of warfare and battle and get down on our knees. Drop your guns, swords and beat them into weapons of looking up to the creator, seeking the face of the creator and walking in his ways. He concludes and invites us saying, “come let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
To walk with the Lord demands faith and loyalty. And the kind of Faith in Christ we need is expressed by this Centurion in the gospel of today. That being a pagan, this Centurion still recognizes the worth and value of who Jesus was and the enormity of his powers and authorities he possesses in himself and he praises and asks Jesus to exercise same power over his servant. This is the faith we are asked to emulate. So faith in him is key to the life of Grace. Such faith is rooted in total commitment of oneself to him, total abandonment of oneself to him and trusting in his providence, guidance and sustenance.
Yet undeserving of such merits and generosity of God, the Centurion still teaches us that we are really unworthy of God’s blessings and Favours. That we are stained with sins and atrocities. We are unworthy of the blessings that flow from Christ and his healing and providence. Yet we also recognize our dependence on him, our faith in him will earn us our undeserved blessings.
As we begin the Advent journey, a season to rise above our limitations and climb the mountains, striving to purify ourselves and make ourselves become better and attuned to the spirit and glory of our God we need faith and commitment.
God our Father, you sent us your Son Jesus Christ who took our human nature to save us. Draw us closer to Jesus in faith and in grace. Make us do his will and accept him ways, teachings and ideals. Grant us growth in faith and loyalty to him. May we shelve our swords against ourselves and build up love and peace throughout this advent season through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
