May the Lord bless you with grace, peace, and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 06th December 2021.
We celebrate the memorial of Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, bishop, the wonder worker. Nicholas had an incredibly special heart towards the poor and the needy. It so happened that a man who had three daughters of marriageable age did not have enough money to give them in marriage. St. Nicolas came to know their desperate situation of three daughters were about to be forced into prostitution, he secretly left three bags of gold on three separate occasions to help them get married. Over the years, inspired by the gesture of the saint, a custom of gift-giving on the feast of the saint started to spread. Later, Saint Nicholas came to be known popularly as Santa Claus.
Fearlessness can be sickness but not being afraid is the hallmark of health.
What assurance for us all to hear from the first reading! “For those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
Advent is filled with miracles and mesmerizing moments. It is indeed a time of blessing for people, places, and the planet. The list of blessings is endless as we reflect on the first reading. It is God’s own initiative indeed. God changes the landscape, the mindset, the paradigm, and the trajectory. Deserts become oasis; the redeemed will be walking on the Holy Way is paved by the Lord for God’s people. God fills us with joy and gladness and make sorrow and sighing to flee away. Yes, the Psalmist assures us: “Our God will come to save us!”
In the Gospel, Jesus changes the condition of a bedridden person. Jesus healed him integrally. “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” (Lk.5:20). Jesus healed his physical and spiritual paralysis. Unless we become instruments of love, we cannot be an instrument of healing. The gesture of love like that of the four who carried paralyzed person to Jesus is the gesture we all need to have. To be a friend in times of sickness, sorrow and suffering is the expression of a faithful friendship. May God help us to become the channels of hope bringing us closer to Jesus. God bless you.