Monday of the First Week of Advent
Click here for today's readings on the USCCB website.
Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Alleluia: See Psalm 80:4
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11
Today’s readings audio:
Zion, the Royal City of God (Isaiah 2:1-5)
In today’s reading from Isaiah, we see a vision of the Lord’s house being established on Mt. Zion and all nations coming to it. And all nations coming to it to worship at the house of the God of Jacob.
3 Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.Isaiah 2:3
When this happens, there will be peace, and they will live together and there will be no more war.
There is also an invitation to the House of Jacob to repent and return to God.
5 House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!Isaiah 2:5
The reading shows the near future for the Israelites as when they return out of exile, the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. This is where the Lord dwells, among the Jews. It also looks toward the future and the end of time, toward the new, heavenly Jerusalem where the Holy Trinity dwells. And there will be eternal peace and no more war and no more tears. And all nations and all races will be in heaven in their eternal glory with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
But in order to get there, we need to turn towards the Lord and walk in His light and Truth. We need to let the Lord work in our lives and bring us to repentance. And this is what the time during Advent allows us to do. As we go through this Advent and we hear the readings at Mass and in our own studies leading up to Christmas, we need to take this time to prepare our hearts and souls to receive Him.
During this season, many parishes will offer penance services, and if you haven’t been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a long time, my recommendation is to go. If it has only been a few weeks or if it has been 30 years, go and receive the healing that can only come with being reconciled to Jesus Christ.
Jesus came down from Heaven to earth for this reason, to be born, to live His life and give and spread the Gospel to His disciples, and to suffer and die on the Cross and for His resurrection.
Let us be instructed by Him and walk in His ways.
The Healing of a Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8:5-11)
In today’s Gospel reading, we see an extreme demonstration of faith. The centurion’s servant is sick and he approached Jesus and asked him to heal the servant. Jesus agrees and says he will come and heal the servant.
8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven,Matthew 8:8-10
Jesus is amazed, because the centurion is Roman and not even a Jew. Hence Jesus says that “many will come from the east and the and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…” This alludes to the saving of the Gentiles in addition to the Jewish people.
When we reflect on our faith, do we have the faith of the centurion? Do we have the faith to go to Jesus, and ask Him to heal us? Many of us have wounds and we let them fester in us when we should take them and lay them at the foot of the Cross and give them over to Him. This includes me. But I also offer, that we should give Him thanks and praise as well. When something goes right in our lives, do we take the time (or even think) to thank Him?
We need to take this time of preparation during Advent to reflect on our prayer life. How often to you pray? How often is your life given over to mental prayer? My pastor recommends at least 15 minutes a day and it is something that I struggle with every day and am trying to work on. But prayer and study help to strengthen our faith.
If you don’t know where to start, I might recommend “Face to Face” with Father Mike Schmitz in the Ascension mobile app or the “Best Advent Ever” from Dynamic Catholic. Or, here is a recommendation from my pastor for when I struggle.
Just follow your mother (or father's) advice:
Please
Sorry
Thank you
in daily mental prayer.
Have a blessed and fruitful Advent.
Act of Faith
https://aleteia.org/2020/04/27/a-prayer-for-faith-hope-and-love-despite-darkness
Act of faith. My God, I believe in you, and all that your Church teaches, because you have said it, and your word is true.
Lord, I believe in you …
… Because the beauty of the world speaks of you.
… Because the goodness in the world comes from you.
… Because I can discern and know the truth.
… Because the laws of the universe are ordered.
… Because your creation is sustained in being.
… Because I am a mystery to myself that your words illuminate.
… Because you are the foundation of truth.
… Because you are too great for me to fully understand.
… Because trustworthy people have believed in you for centuries.
… Because of the witness of science.
… Because of the witness of the saints.
… Because of the witness of the Gospels.
… Because you have given me the gift of faith.
… Increase my faith.