B
BarbaraTherese
Guest
Reflections, thoughts and/or
inspirations etc. etc.
MOST WELCOME
in all Meditation Threads
“Where two or more are gathered in my name,
there I am in the midst of them” and on Catholic Answers
Forums we are a cyberspace Catholic community
in the main, and gathered in the name of
Jesus. He is in our midst.
usccb.org/nab/121607.shtml
On this Third Sunday of Advent, sometimes called “Rejoice Sunday” we begin in the Advent Liturgy to look forward to the Birth of Jesus with great joy.
Isreal is in captivity in Babylon after being unfaithful to God and very miserable and despairing about it. Then a voice of a prophet of comfort and consolation is heard in their midst. A voice of comfort of promise. The voice of the prophet Isiah. The first Reading from Isiah is really beautiful and comforting.
This first Reading I think tells us that it is ok and quite normal to feel down in the dumps for some reason or other and not to kick ourselves around because we do…it is also telling us to be strong and try not to be overly fearful for The Lord offers us great hope always:
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=16&year=2007&x=20&y=8
No doubt suffering from the hardship and confinement of prison, John the Baptist began to wonder if Jesus really was the Messiah. As John waited in prison, not knowing his fate, he probably began to wonder, too, if all of his hard work and personal sacrifice had been spent in vain.
…edited text… have been worth it. Where are the miracles? Where is the new growth in our spiritual life?
No matter what you may be feeling today, stand firm in faith. Jesus will bless you. He is completely committed to bringing all of us into a deeper relationship with him. In fact, he’s probably doing it right now! It can be easy at times to overlook the many small ways that Jesus is working in our lives, because we are looking for the “next big thing” instead of finding the small blessings he brings us every day.
…All of these little blessings and acts of grace are meant to build on each other and bring about deeper changes in our lives. All we need are eyes to see and ears to hear. All we need is a little faith that God is on our side, and that he will never abandon us. Just as Jesus invited John’s disciples to look more closely at what was happening all around them, so he may be asking you to look for the signs of his presence and power in your life. Be assured that Jesus loves you immensely and wants to bring new life and joy to you. Trust that he will act, whether it is in small or dramatic ways. Then, on Christmas Day, you will be able to look back and see what he has done. And you too will rejoice!
inspirations etc. etc.
MOST WELCOME
in all Meditation Threads
“Where two or more are gathered in my name,
there I am in the midst of them” and on Catholic Answers
Forums we are a cyberspace Catholic community
in the main, and gathered in the name of
Jesus. He is in our midst.
usccb.org/nab/121607.shtml
On this Third Sunday of Advent, sometimes called “Rejoice Sunday” we begin in the Advent Liturgy to look forward to the Birth of Jesus with great joy.
Isreal is in captivity in Babylon after being unfaithful to God and very miserable and despairing about it. Then a voice of a prophet of comfort and consolation is heard in their midst. A voice of comfort of promise. The voice of the prophet Isiah. The first Reading from Isiah is really beautiful and comforting.
This first Reading I think tells us that it is ok and quite normal to feel down in the dumps for some reason or other and not to kick ourselves around because we do…it is also telling us to be strong and try not to be overly fearful for The Lord offers us great hope always:
The Responsorial Psalm is also beautiful reminding and consoling us that The Lord is the forever and eternal always Faithful One:
The Second Reading from St. Paul also is a really beatuiful statement and of great consolation…and in The Gospel and poor St. John is locked up in prison not knowing his fate…and is starting to wonder and perhaps no little depressed with his predicament (which would be entirely a normal reaction) if his whole life could have been for nothing. Hence he sends off a message to Jesus “Are you the One I have expected?” Jesus replies with great praise of him to the crowd around Jesus…I also pick up personally in the Gospel a tone of sadness with Jesus for his cousin is in prison unjustly, and there is naught Jesus can do to have him released. Jesus too perhaps was worried about what John’s fate in prison could be All these things are the normal emotions of a human beings. Turning to the crowd after giving John’s disciples His reply, Jesus is almost angry - and reflecting on myself if my cousin was in jail unjustly and facing goodness knows what fate, I too would feel angry. Anger is not a “bad” emotion, it is simply an emotion like any other…what we do with our anger is the sole factor that introduces morality and right or wrong. Sometimes we need be silent while our anger resolves itself and passes, at other times we need to speak up from our anger. How do we discern between the two - by being, I think, people of prayer for only The Holy Spirit and in secret (unknown to onself) can gift us this balance and insight and sensitivity to his gentle leadings.
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=16&year=2007&x=20&y=8
No doubt suffering from the hardship and confinement of prison, John the Baptist began to wonder if Jesus really was the Messiah. As John waited in prison, not knowing his fate, he probably began to wonder, too, if all of his hard work and personal sacrifice had been spent in vain.
…edited text… have been worth it. Where are the miracles? Where is the new growth in our spiritual life?
No matter what you may be feeling today, stand firm in faith. Jesus will bless you. He is completely committed to bringing all of us into a deeper relationship with him. In fact, he’s probably doing it right now! It can be easy at times to overlook the many small ways that Jesus is working in our lives, because we are looking for the “next big thing” instead of finding the small blessings he brings us every day.
…All of these little blessings and acts of grace are meant to build on each other and bring about deeper changes in our lives. All we need are eyes to see and ears to hear. All we need is a little faith that God is on our side, and that he will never abandon us. Just as Jesus invited John’s disciples to look more closely at what was happening all around them, so he may be asking you to look for the signs of his presence and power in your life. Be assured that Jesus loves you immensely and wants to bring new life and joy to you. Trust that he will act, whether it is in small or dramatic ways. Then, on Christmas Day, you will be able to look back and see what he has done. And you too will rejoice!
…