Reflections
for Sunday, December 7, 2008
Although they were the Chosen People, the people of the first reading had hit the wall. They had become wealthy. They had less need for God then ever before. They pushed God aside, even out of their lives. They forgot about Him.
Then, they bottomed out. They were led off into slavery. Temple and the Holy City were destroyed. They acted like pagans, and now they were forced to live in a pagan land and serve pagans. But in their poverty they became rich. They refused to become pagan. Having their identity stolen from them made the people more devout followers of Yahweh, They had no power except their faith in the All Powerful One.
When we put our complete faith in God, we receive deliverance from our enemies. Then we allow evil into our lives. We allow something to destroy us. We destroy ourselves by relying on our own abilities instead of the Power of God. When we bottom out. We find ourselves completely alone.
Through the Grace of God, we come to the Wisdom that we are only alone if we forget about Him who said He’d always be with us. There is nothing that we might have done which excludes us from His compassion and consolation. “Give comfort to my people,” the Lord says. There is nothing that the Lord does not want to forgive.
So often we underestimate God. We forget that God set no limits to His Love. Perhaps we think that we do not deserve His mercy and compassion. We are correct there. We don’t deserve Him, but that doesn't mean that He doesn’t give Himself totally for us.
Look at the cross. How can you look at the cross, and underestimate what our God will do out of Love?
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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