Monday of the Second Week of Advent &
Saint Damasus I, Pope
Biographical Information about St. Damasus I
Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Is 35:1-10
The reading from Isaiah continues the theme of the faithful being returned following the Diaspora. In our Advent Season this selection rings of the path made straight in our hearts as we, who have exiled ourselves through sin find the way home along the highway the Baptist proclaims.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. Our God will come to save us!
The psalmist, in this selection, gives thanks and praise for the peace of God. This peace, says the psalm, comes about when justice under God’s law rules.
Gospel Lk 5:17-26
In this section of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reveals his true purpose and mission. He is, as usual teaching, conveying the Good News to the people when the effects of his words become evident as he sees the paralytic lowered before hem. His first words are; “your sins are forgiven.” This upsets the local religious leaders as they rightly question; “Who but God alone can forgive sins.” It is clear that Jesus creates a link between the Hebrew understanding of the effects of sin and physical health as he takes the next steps and tells that paralytic to “rise and walk.” In this way the connection is made – Jesus, who heals and forgives, is God.
Reflection:
The scripture today has two messages for us. The Gospel message affirms that interior sin can manifest itself externally in damage to the health of the physical body. I have previously defined sin as a conscious failure to love.
If we look at an example of sin, let’s say you have a serious problem with something a member of your family has done. Even though they were wrong, perhaps even grievously wrong in what they did, our sin in not forgiving them is the one that does us greater harm. If we latch onto the hurt that person caused us and continue to react in anger, not trying to put away our feelings of dislike or even hatred, we have created in our soul a canker, festering until it, like a cancer takes on a life of its own and we are almost powerless to stop it.
This kind of sin can lead to all kinds o emotional and physical problems. It is through the example and peace of Christ that comes with conversion of the heart that cures that kind of hurt. That is the true message of the story of the paralytic.
The second message relates to that conversion experience in that Isaiah describes the path itself. How light our burdens become when we had them to Christ who came so that we would be able to lay those burdens at his feet. The passage very much leads us on our Advent journey, following St. John the Baptist’s call to repentance, conversion, and faith that sets our feet upon this path.
Today our Advent prayer is one that asks us to hold up our spirit and see if there are blemishes of sin that need to be handed to the Lord so we might find that path more clearly and walk without that burden he so generously offers to carry.
Pax
Saint Damasus I, Pope
Biographical Information about St. Damasus I
Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Is 35:1-10
The reading from Isaiah continues the theme of the faithful being returned following the Diaspora. In our Advent Season this selection rings of the path made straight in our hearts as we, who have exiled ourselves through sin find the way home along the highway the Baptist proclaims.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. Our God will come to save us!
The psalmist, in this selection, gives thanks and praise for the peace of God. This peace, says the psalm, comes about when justice under God’s law rules.
Gospel Lk 5:17-26
In this section of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reveals his true purpose and mission. He is, as usual teaching, conveying the Good News to the people when the effects of his words become evident as he sees the paralytic lowered before hem. His first words are; “your sins are forgiven.” This upsets the local religious leaders as they rightly question; “Who but God alone can forgive sins.” It is clear that Jesus creates a link between the Hebrew understanding of the effects of sin and physical health as he takes the next steps and tells that paralytic to “rise and walk.” In this way the connection is made – Jesus, who heals and forgives, is God.
Reflection:
The scripture today has two messages for us. The Gospel message affirms that interior sin can manifest itself externally in damage to the health of the physical body. I have previously defined sin as a conscious failure to love.
If we look at an example of sin, let’s say you have a serious problem with something a member of your family has done. Even though they were wrong, perhaps even grievously wrong in what they did, our sin in not forgiving them is the one that does us greater harm. If we latch onto the hurt that person caused us and continue to react in anger, not trying to put away our feelings of dislike or even hatred, we have created in our soul a canker, festering until it, like a cancer takes on a life of its own and we are almost powerless to stop it.
This kind of sin can lead to all kinds o emotional and physical problems. It is through the example and peace of Christ that comes with conversion of the heart that cures that kind of hurt. That is the true message of the story of the paralytic.
The second message relates to that conversion experience in that Isaiah describes the path itself. How light our burdens become when we had them to Christ who came so that we would be able to lay those burdens at his feet. The passage very much leads us on our Advent journey, following St. John the Baptist’s call to repentance, conversion, and faith that sets our feet upon this path.
Today our Advent prayer is one that asks us to hold up our spirit and see if there are blemishes of sin that need to be handed to the Lord so we might find that path more clearly and walk without that burden he so generously offers to carry.
Pax
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