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Wednesday, December 14

Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

The Physician in the Waiting Room

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Even John the Baptist who loved the Lord so much sent two of his disciples to ask the Lord that question. Jesus was not offended but rather he pointed to the many miracles that he had performed and told them to go back and recount them to John.
How many miracles has the Lord performed in your life? For some reason there are those who think that the “Age of Miracles” is over! Jesus no longer walks the earth and therefore he isn’t performing any more miracles.
But, oh, how wrong they are! Babies are being born every day! Sick people are being cured every day! The dead are being brought back to life every day! Only God can create a new human life! A physician delivers a child, but God creates that child! Only God cures our illnesses! A physician can prescribe medicine but God created the physician!
And what about the dead coming back to life? When we confess our sins, our souls are brought back to Life! Our healing God is still healing and curing his people! Take your illnesses to the Divine Physician and ask him to heal you! Don’t delay! His healing awaits you today!

Reflection based on Luke 7:18b-23
Molly Kelly

Loving Father, let me trust in you more and more through the countless miracles you do in my life every day.

Thursday, December 15

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

The Human Drama

Flannery O’Connor entitled one of her stories, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” In our Gospel reading today we hear that Jesus found not only a good man, but the greatest born of woman, John the Baptist. Jesus interrogates the crowd about his cousin, John, and through his own questioning arrives at the true conclusion.
The drama of this no-nonsense prophet’s life was carried out in the desert, a favorite place to teach the stark realities of life. John did not go to the people, but rather the people came to John. Many, including sinners, were serious truth seekers. They were not seeking the things of this world but listened humbly when John spoke to them, preparing their minds and hearts for the coming of the Messiah
Those who listened, believed, and were baptized with John’s baptism acknowledged the righteousness of God. There were others, the learned and self-righteous, who did not believe and refused John’s baptism. Their drama ended by rejecting the plan of God in their own lives.
The entry of Christ into the world sliced the world and time into two, even as it divided all life in two. Advent is a time of decision. If any man be in Christ he is a new creation (cf.2 Cor 5:17).

Reflection based on Luke 7:24-30
Mother Assumpta Long

Loving Father, guide my decisions so that my every action leads me closer to you.