The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our relationship with the Creator and the choices we make to live in love.
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah declares the Eternal Covenant of Peace in the New Zion.
* [54:4–8] As with some other Old Testament themes, Second Isaiah uses that of Israel as the Lord’s bride in a new manner. Whereas Hosea and Jeremiah had depicted Israel as the Lord’s spouse to emphasize both Israel’s infidelity and the Lord’s continued love (Hos 1–3; Jer 2:2; 3:1–15) and Ezekiel to accuse Israel unsparingly (Ez 16; 23), Second Isaiah speaks only of the love with which the Lord restores the people, speaking tender words with no hint of reproach. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 54, n.d.)
Psalm 30 is thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness.
* [Psalm 30] An individual thanksgiving in four parts: praise and thanks for deliverance and restoration (Ps 30:2–4); an invitation to others to join in (Ps 30:5–6); a flashback to the time before deliverance (Ps 30:7–11); a return to praise and thanks (Ps 30:12). Two sets of images recur: 1) going down, death, silence; 2) coming up, life, praising. God has delivered the psalmist from one state to the other. (Psalms, PSALM 30, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus’ Testimony to John.
* [7:24–30] In his testimony to John, Jesus reveals his understanding of the relationship between them: John is the precursor of Jesus (Lk 7:27); John is the messenger spoken of in Mal 3:1 who in Mal 3:23 is identified as Elijah. Taken with the previous episode, it can be seen that Jesus identifies John as precisely the person John envisioned Jesus to be: the Elijah who prepares the way for the coming of the day of the Lord. (Luke, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Michael Kavan comments that anyone in the Kingdom of God has the opportunity and the privilege to see Jesus through his resurrection and to understand fully the scriptures and the teachings of Jesus as the Messiah. Our enhanced insight positions us best to understand God and to follow His word as Jesus taught us. That is - if we decide to, which brings us to the final message within Luke’s reading.
Just like the tax collectors, Pharisees, and scholars of law, we have a choice. We can be like the tax collectors and repent and acknowledge the righteousness of God or reject Him as did the Pharisees and the scholars of law. Again – our choice. My hope this Advent season is that we choose to open our hearts to the teachings of Jesus and follow his way into the Kingdom of God. May we treat others with kindness and generosity this holiday season – keeping in mind what Pope Francis noted about John, “He began with the least.” And we should, too.(Kavan, 2022)
Don Schwager quotes “Born of Woman or Born of God?,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'What then did you go out to see?' Perhaps you say, 'A prophet.' Yes, I agree. He is a saint and a prophet. He even surpasses the dignity of a prophet. Not only did he announce before that I am coming but pointed me out close at hand, saying, 'Behold the Lamb of God that bears the sin of the world' (John 1:29). The prophet's voice testified of him as the one who was sent before my face to prepare the way before me (Malachi 3:1). I witness that there has not arisen among those born of women one greater than he. He that is least, in the life according to the law, in the kingdom of God is greater than he. How and in what manner is he greater? In that the blessed John, together with as many as preceded him, was born of woman, but they who have received the faith are no longer called the sons of women, but as the wise Evangelist said, 'are born of God'" (John 1:12). (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 18) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Isaiah 54:1-10 comments that God does not create suffering or chaos, war or destruction. These are all the result of a world thrown out of joint by sinful human beings. They come from a world that has distanced itself from the Lord and his command to live in love. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Punishments,” or the consequences of sin, “must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin” (1472). The “wrath” that Isaiah talks about here is his way of describing these consequences.
Let nothing stand between you and the Lord. Let these words—the final words from today’s reading—always be in your heart and on your lips: “My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:10).
“Lord, in the face of such constant love, what else can I do but fall on my knees and worship you?” (Meditation on Isaiah 54:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how the fear of the Babylonian exiles that God was angry with them is countered by the intimate image of God in the text from Deutero-Isaiah. The nature of punishment in little by little steps points out the need for the people to return to God. Friar Jude notes the acceptance of Jesus' message by the anawim who receive God’s love to address their need.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that the Trinity provides the foundation of a benevolent universe. He reflects on the meaning of “Father” in Trinitarian theology.
When trust in God as Father is missing, there is a foundational scariness and insecurity to our experience of reality. In that sense, we could say that we are living in a world without the Father. It’s not a safe universe. It’s not a benevolent universe. We think there is an enemy behind every rock and that we’ve got to protect our lives at all costs because no one else will. It’s all on us. It’s understandable why people get so paranoid and preoccupied with security systems of every form and shape. When we don’t know God as the One who most desires our goodness, safety, and growth, there is no underlying “okayness” to the world and to our own lives. There’s no sense that reality is on our side, so we of course try to save ourselves.
Engaging with this mystery of the Trinity leads us into a desperate and dangerous love affair with God. It’s a love affair that’s always going on inside of us, almost in spite of us, and all we can do is start saying yes and start recognizing and honoring it. (Rohr, n.d.)
We recognize the people and events in our lives that have pointed to the care of God for our needs and growth.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 54. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/54?1
Kavan, M. (2022, December 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/121522.html
Luke, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?24
Meditation on Isaiah 54:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/15/554993/
Psalms, PSALM 30. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/30?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-trinitarian-universe-2022-12-15/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). My Steadfast Love and Covenant of Peace. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec15
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