December 16, 2020
Wednesday of the Third
Week of Advent
Lectionary: 189
I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.
For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Who announced this from the beginning
and foretold it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory
of all the descendants of Israel.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (Isaiah 45:8) Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and
the earth bring forth a Savior.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Raise your voice
and tell the Good News:
Behold, the Lord
GOD comes with power.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 7:18B-23
At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
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TO REMAIN JOYFUL, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS!
Keep your eyes on Jesus! If I'm remembered for only one message, I'd like it to be this motto, for it says everything that needs to be said about how to get through life on earth with the most possible joy, the fullest peace, and the strongest faith on our journey to the glorious joy of heaven.
It's the message of today's scriptures. In the Gospel passage, Jesus is asked, "Are you the one?" by those who had heard John the Baptist herald the coming of the Messiah. "Or should we look for another?" And Jesus replies, "Look for me in the evidence. The blind see, the lame walk...."
"I am the Lord, there is no other," God says in the first reading. "I created everything. Turn to me and be safe."
It's when we don't feel safe that we go looking for our Savior in all the wrong places. When life doesn't go the way we want it to, when problems seem to be pushing us closer and closer to disaster, and when our prayers are apparently not getting results, we turn away from God, often without realizing it, in search of escape and peace. We turn to angry, unloving methods of problem-solving, or to alcohol or food or shopping.
When holy obedience seems too difficult or unpleasant or requires too much sacrifice, we settle for the world's wisdom and rationalize it as okay in an effort to quiet our consciences.
"Turn to me and be safe," the Lord tells us.
He's not promising safe-keeping from hardship. Rather, we are safe in the hardships, because he cares about us and will strengthen us and mature us and make everything work out for our good -- and for the good of everyone else who's affected by our problems. This takes time, usually much more time than we want it to, but if we decide how short it should take, we're turning away from God again.
If only we could see what he sees, then we wouldn't be so impatient. Then we wouldn't despair or feel abandoned by him. But that's why Jesus tells us to look for him in the evidence that's visible around us. For example, when you hear others tell stories about how God rescued them from their problems, he's reminding you that he will rescue you, too (or the loved one for whom you've been endlessly praying). And if you're not hearing such stories of faith, go find a group of people at your parish to befriend.
Signs of Christ's presence and helpfulness are everywhere! Rejoice!
He wants you to know that you belong in heaven, and from heaven's perspective, the picture is much, much larger and much better than what you can see. Remember this whenever you lose your joyfulness.
Waiting can be an unhappy time, but we don't have to feel happy to be joyful. Joy is an interior relationship with Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus -- on the signs that he cares -- and you will live in his joy.
Today's Prayer
Thank You, Lord, because You have come to heal, free and save our lives. May I discover Your presence in those who are docile to Your voice and in Your everyday blessings. Amen.
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God Bless You.....
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