more deeply into this great mystery of God-with-us is surely an appropriate way for us to spend the short season of Advent.
The gospel gives us even more pointers for our journey. Following his account of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records a number of miracles where Jesus extends the compassion he had been teaching his followers. In the first of these miracles, we meet a wonderful model: a centurion - an outsider in the employ of Rome, the dreaded oppressor of Israel. A military by profession, this man must have had a caring heart to plead for the cure of his servant, a boy. His expression of humility is so striking that it has been incorporated into the Eucharistic liturgy, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof.” Jesus, who had emptied himself to take on our humanity, was struck by the faith of the centurion and attributed the cure of his servant to this admirable trust. At the same time, Jesus lamented the lack of these virtues in the unconverted hearts of the Israelites to whom he felt especially called. This episode gives us rich matter for reflection.
So let us take with us this Advent a deep humility as we ponder the mystery of the Incarnation, a joyful hope for the peace this world longs for and a faith based on the gratuitous love of God for each of us.
Prayer
Come, Jesus our Emmanuel, warm our hearts with reminders of your compassionate love. Walk with us each day of Advent that we may learn to accept your love with deeper faith, to live that love with stronger hope and so experience the fullness of joy and peace this Christmas.
Tese Currie, shcj Tese enjoys active retirement writing for province communications, participating in the parish (Our Mother of Good Counsel) RCIA program and welcoming guests to the house.
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