[Salvation]

Friday, December 16

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

How Dark is Darkness?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls John the Baptist, “a burning and shining lamp.” In our electrified age we take light for granted; a flick of the switch and our rooms are filled with light. But there was a time when a single lamp was a luxury. Most of us can’t imagine how dark the world was before electricity. John the Baptist was a single lamp and the people “were content to rejoice in his light.”

Jesus is the light of the world, a light that overcomes all the darkness. Do we appreciate the light which he brought into the world, or do we take it for granted? During this Advent perhaps we can meditate for a moment on how dark the world must have been before the coming of Jesus. To be in the presence of God, the Jews had to go up to the temple in Jerusalem, and even then they were only able to stand outside. Before, the temple priests offered animal sacrifices over and over for the sins of the people.

Today the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass is offered on altars around the world. We have only to join our hearts and our intentions to that offering. Most of us live within an easy drive of a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. We could visit it every day.

Perhaps it is too easy. The sanctuary light burning beside the tabernacle reminds us that the light of the world has come to dwell with us. Do we rejoice in that light?

Reflection based on John 5:33-36
Dale O’Leary

Loving Father, bring your light to every dark corner of my life.

[Salvation]

Saturday, December 17

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

This Journey Together

“A book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.”

It is cold and dark. I look at the clock. 4:45 A. M. I hear the familiar jingle of dog tags as she shakes and stretches and then searches for me. Most mornings, she will stand by the door and wait for me to open it. On cold, dark mornings, her paws develop suction cups. She looks at me: You are not going out with me? She wants to go. But she will not go alone. We head toward the woods. I have learned this is a process not to be rushed. We are making this journey together.

We know very little about the family life of Jesus. What we do know is that Jesus comes to share our human journey. We need not go alone. He comes to walk with us in journey. We need not go alone. He comes to walk with us in the dark and in the bright sun. He lovingly asks us to do the same for one another.

In those early morning hours, the deer are deep in the woods, I can see their eyes peer at me through the trees. And while my dog scampers about, I think of the other eyes who have watched me through the years.

A grandmother, an uncle, a dear family friend. I think of those who have made the journey with me. They have shown me Jesus

Reflection based on Matthew 1:1-17
Father Gregory E. S. Malovetz

Loving Father, thank you for the faces in my life – past and present – who reveal Jesus to me.