God Knows Our Ways

 

God knows our ways and regards our rights.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 2nd Week of Advent B and the Memorial of St. Lucy, December 13th, 2023
Texts: Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 103:1-4,8,10; Matthew 11:28-30 

Today’s first reading is the question of God’s knowledge and care. God says, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hid from the  Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’?” God reminds us, today, that none of our ways passes Him unnoticed. It is also a delusion, resulting from ignorance of who God is, to think that He does not care about us. God knows our ways and regards our rights. God who is everlasting, created the ends of the earth and with unsearchable understanding cannot but know our ways. He is also a God who does not grow weary or faint. 

Prophet Isaiah affirms that God cares about us; He cares for those who wait on Him. Hence, he says, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the  Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” What does it mean to wait on the Lord? It means putting our hope in Him, turning to Him for existence, daily response to life.

Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart

Jesus Christ invites us, in the gospel reading, to come to Him for rest on the basis of who He is. He is gentle and lowly in heart. He will give us rest because He is gentle and lowly in heart. If we know Him to be gentle and lowly in heart, we will not hesitate to respond to His invitation. In His own words: “for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is because He will not drive us hard; His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  

It is now clear that the knowledge of God is key to our life as Christians. Ignorance sabotage our relationship with God and our uprightness before Him. Knowledge illuminates our path and life.  

St. Lucy, whose memorial is today, is a virgin and Martyr. Being a virgin, she gives us the legacy of purity and sanctity. Being a martyr, she invites us to embrace the virtues of courage and fortitude.  

Prayer 

May the glorious intercession of the Virgin and Martyr Saint Lucy give us new heart, we pray, O Lord, so that we may celebrate her heavenly birthday in this present age and so behold things eternal. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke