Reflection for Saturday, December 13, 2014: 2nd week in Advent..
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Martin, Kathy
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2014-12-13
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en_US
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|In the Gospel from Matthew we hear how the prophet Elijah will "come and restore all things." But Jesus throws in a twist when he says, "But I tell you that Elijah has already come." At some point the disciples catch on to the meaning of Jesus words that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of the coming of Elijah. How often do I miss or am slow at catching the meaning of the words and actions of Jesus in my life. Why is this? My experience is that God is creative in how He chooses to touch my life. Sometimes I feel and know the presence of God very directly in my life and at other times I sit in prayer and feel nothing. And yet, isn't that experience similar to how the disciples thought about the coming of Elijah. They expected the coming of Elijah to look a certain way, however, Jesus explains that Elijah did come and it simply didn't look like they expected. Do I expect God to be present like the fire talked about in the first reading or am I open to finding God in all things?|The responsorial psalm begins with the words, "Lord, make me turn to you. " What comes to mind for me at these words is my experience as a mother of three young boys. When I really want one of my boys to "turn to me" I don't yell, I don't repeat myself, I don't cajole. I often will take my hands and put them up to my child's chin or cheek and speak softly and directly to him. Touching one's face is an intimate gesture that is appropriate between parent and child. And by the way, it is much more effective than yelling. (I know this from trying both tactics.) When, in the responsorial psalm we pray, "Lord, make us turn to you." we are asking for the intimacy of a familiar touch and I imagine the Lord taking my face into His hands and saying words that immediately calm and refocus me, just like I have done for my children. When that happens I can then earnestly pray the second phrase of the psalm which is "let us see your face and we shall be saved." |As we wait earnestly for the coming of Immanuel during this Advent season I am reminded of yet another way in which God influenced humanity in an unexpected way. No one expected the Messiah to come in such humble circumstances and to such humble people as a young Mary and her husband Joseph. And no one was probably more surprised than Mary at the way God choose to bring his son into the world. I often wonder how Mary felt when she was pregnant with our Lord. As I remember the intense yearning I had as a pregnant mother to hold my newborn baby in my arms and see his face, I wonder what that time of waiting and yearning was like for Mary. And then what a wonderful surprise when Jesus was born and the shepherds came, the angels sang and they all rejoiced.
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary Number: 186