Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday, 1st Week of Advent, Year B, November 30th, 2020
Texts: Is. 2:1-5; Ps. 122:1-9; Matt. 8:5-11
Today's gospel reading speaks of our Lord's presence in faith. This brings to mind the words of Jesus Christ: "Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23). This is a kind of spiritual presence and it is as real as physical presence. The centurion understood this and he said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus commended his faith and said, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." The centurion saw in Jesus Christ God, not just a man and that is what the people of Israel failed to see in him, in spite of many miracles he worked that showed his Divinity. The centurion recognized that the influence of Jesus' power is beyond space and time. Hence, Jesus credited to him faith.
Another thing hat stood out in the man's life is humility, recognizing his lowly state and Jesus' state as God, he confessed his unworthiness to receive him under his roof. His encounter with Jesus Christ has similitude with the encounter of prophets with God and in such encounter God came to meet man (Is. 6:4-7; Jer. 1:4-7). What we await during Advent is the coming of God to meet man. Hence, today's gospel reading drives home the message of Advent. Such encounter happens through faith. Humility is key to having faith; it is humility that makes us to feel the need for God and dependency on him. Having witnessed Jesus' teaching and works, his humility makes him to acknowledge that such works and words could have not been from human but God. Humility makes one to accept the truth, not minding whether it makes him/her inferior to another person.
Today's first reading also tells us about the coming of our Lord to establish peace and justice. The latter days refers to the period of the Lord, his reign. The latter days shall come to pass because our Lord will surely come; he will come to save and renew the world. In his days, the Church will become the focal point of the world; it is in the Church that the ways of the Lord, his law and words are taught. Prophet Isaiah puts it this way: "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: 'Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." The mountain of the Lord is the Church, the assembly of the people of faith. Jesus Christ tells us, in the gospel reading, that it is by faith we gather at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. By faith we are included in the promise to Abraham and also share in his blessings.
The reading shows that peace will reign in the world when everyone bows to the judgement of Jesus Christ, and is ready to walk in his ways, abide by his law and keep his words. Jesus is coming to judge the world and to establish peace.
Let us take our faith seriously, for it makes Jesus Christ present in our lives here and now. The presence of Jesus Christ in our lives through faith makes us fit for his second coming.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for the gift of this season that teach us to wait for you, grant us faith that will always make us experience your saving power in our lives. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
Posts
0 Comments