may the Lord bless you with peace, grace, and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 04th December 2021. We celebrate Saint John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church. We reflect on Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 and the Gospel of Matthew 9:35 – 10:1, 6-8.
We began in the first week of Advent with the message of hope, Prophet Isaiah offers words of consolation by asserting the presence and material prosperity that are due for God’s people. We all have this question at times: how is it possible for God who loves us immensely to allow us to walk in the river of pain, hardship, and suffering? Although there is healing, it does not mean the end of pain. It is a constant awareness of God and listening to God’s voice prompting us to go forward in a particular direction.
When people of Israel were in captivity, they had food and drink, yet they believed that God was not near to them. We feel blessed and become confident in the awareness of the presence of God in His Word.
Today in a special way, we meet God of compassion and healing in Jesus.
From material affluence to spiritual maturity and growth is what we all need to aim at. Yes, we love to have plenty of material blessings yet efficacy in life come in giving the best to those less fortunate than us.
“The Teacher will not hide anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher… your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it”. Jesus is our teacher with integrity, honesty, and nobility. The promises of the first reading are fulfilled in Himself as we reflect on the Gospel.
Advent is the time we experience the nearness of God through Jesus. It is time to focus on what we have and what we can rather than our limitations and weaknesses.
God is looking for you and me to work for the Kingdom and to spread the communicable spirit of love, joy, and communion. It is easy to pray for more workers for the vineyard but to pray that we become the worker is the intention of the Lord.
Are we ready to sign for working in the Vineyard of the Lord? May God bless your generous and willing heart to be a labourer.