Greetings on this the Monday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9; Mt 8:5-11
Notes: None.
Summary
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed. We have a world filled with dreadful suffering. Yet as our gospel reading reassures us the LORD helps us overcome the personal and social suffering as expressed in faith.
It is not worthiness that the LORD responds to rather he always responds to our needs spoken and unspoken. But speaking out our needs is for us to do that we might also soothe ourselves and give meaning to our plight. Speaking out our needs sears the conscience of the perpetrator with the potential for change in heart and mind and action.
Advent is a season of change. Let us gather into the LORD.
Resource: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/three-year-cycle-four-week-advent.pdf
Reflection
From the book When Bad Things Happen to Good People
“We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war; For we know that You have made the world in a way That man must find his own path to peace Within himself and with his neighbor. We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation; For you have already given us the resources With which to feed the entire world If we would only use them wisely. We cannot merely pray to You, O God, To root out prejudice, For You have already given us eyes With which to see the good in all men If we would only use them rightly. We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair, For You have already given us the power To clear away slums and to give hope If we would only use our power justly. We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease, For you have already given us great minds with which To search out cures and healing, If we would only use them constructively. Therefore we pray to You instead, O God, For strength, determination, and willpower, To do instead of just to pray, To become instead of merely to wish. Jack Riemer, Likrat Shabbat”
― Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Personal Reflection
Before we receive Holy Communion at Mass we say just as the Centurion said: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. When I say these words I invoke my faith and the faithful to make my heart open, my roof open, my mouth open to receive the Divine Gift. I want God to fix the world. He wants to fix me to fix the world.
First Reading
For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Responsorial
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
Gospel Acclamation
Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Gospel
The Healing of a Centurion’s Servant.
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry