3rd Week of the Advent - Wednesday
14th December 2022 (Wednesday) Readings and Reflection
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Tuesday of 3rd Week of the Advent. Today's gospel reflection is on the theme Turn and Return!
For more certainty the Readings are posted from the Latest Catholic Lectionary{alertInfo}
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 45:6b-8,18,21b-25
6. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. 8. “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.18. For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other.21. Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ 24. “Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. 25. In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”
Gospel : Luke 19:19-23
At that time: John, 19. calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20. And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21. In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, leperse are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Turn and Return!
Indicative: There are many false images of God. God is reduced to be a “private property” of religion and is domesticated to be a violent defender of religion. This is truly a “godless” culture{alertSuccess}
1. It is so sad that people divide, discriminate, and fight in the name of God. But in the name of a righteous God, how can unrighteousness be promoted? In the name of the true God, how can truth be falsified? In the name of the holy God, how can unholiness be sanctified? All the more, in the name of a benevolent, magnanimous God, how can hatred, violence and destruction be propagated and perpetuated?
2. How little do people realise that it is folly and a mockery to fight over the names of God or religion or tradition or rituals? They are not equivalent to truth and loyalty. Our primary concern is godliness, holiness, faithfulness, and goodness.
3. It is in this context of the false and deceptive identity of God and religion, the word of God today reminds us of the true identity of God and His functions. God the Yahweh in the first reading declares, “I am the Lord and there is no other god. A righteous God and a Saviour… Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength… Turn to me and be saved.”
4. The above words need not be taken as exclusivism leading to intolerance, domination, and condemnation of other religions. The point here is not which God or religion is greater than others. The real issue is, any meaningful talk of God or adherence to religion should include and promote righteousness and strength, and not weakness and unrighteousness. Any loyalty to God must be saving and not destroying.
5. The gospel picture of God and the Saviour authenticates this right notion and identity of God. In God, we find healing, comfort, and strength: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. Therefore, any loyalty to God that does not foster these “life-signs” is only false and discardable.
Imperative: It is high time that we stop being arrogant and making ourselves “defenders” and “protectors” of God. Instead, let us become humble to allow Him to “save” us {alertSuccess}
Video Reflection
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