May the Lord bless you with grace, peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
We reflect on Isaiah 41:13-20 and Matthew 11:11-19. We celebrate the memorial of St Juan Diego Cuahlatoatzin.
Fear and confusion surround our life when we do not realise the presence of God. We continue to read the book of consolation. The reading today is the message of encouragement. God comes to help
However insignificant we might look at this point in our life, we are so precious to God and assure the Holy on of Israel will not forget or abandon us. “Do not be afraid, Jacob, poor worm, Israel, puny mite.” When we live at the mercy of others, we too feel like a worm and mite. God protects the defenceless, the vulnerable and those live in the margins of the community. The assurance of the advent of good times was given to the people of people by the prophet. God gives us strength to “thresh and crush the mountains,” to deal with enemies and all that makes us weak and vulnerable.
God promised God’s people when they return from exile, God would replace thorns and bushes to life-giving magnificent trees and abundance of beauty and peace. As King Cyrus crushed Babylonians and allowed God’s people to return, so God equips each one of us to be “threshing-sledge.” Stop looking back to the good old days, just like them, we are encouraged to look forward to a promising, blessing-filled future during Advent. It is the time of intense renewal of hope, peace, and joy in love.
Jesus endorses the magnificence of John the Baptist. This passage is the address the tension between the disciples of John the Baptist and Jesus. By discriminating we cannot be different rather we become indifferent day by day. However privileged is John the Baptist being a harbinger, the last prophet, and had a unique role he played in connecting the Old and New Testament yet, the underprivileged and the new believers too enjoy the status of the privileged by believing in Christ and living the values of the Gospel. We too need to become like him in passing the love of Jesus with a resolute, firm, and unwavering mind and heart. The violent people cannot prevent those who follow Jesus. May God bless you.