TODAY’S ADVENT REFLECTION FOR THE 2ND FRIDAY OF ADVENT, 2016
A couple years ago, I joined many of my friends in attending the episcopal ordination of a wonderful priest. As we were waiting for the procession, many complaints were made regarding the appearance of the cathedral. Finally, one of my priest friends asked me: “What do you think?” My response was: “Read the bulletin and see how people are nourished from the altar of this cathedral!”
Jesus said to the crowds that when John the Baptist “came neither eating nor drinking, they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’” And when “the Son of Man came eating and drinking they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’” (Lk 11: 18-19).
People during the time of Jesus and my friends in front to that local cathedral have one thing in common: opinion has been formed and expectation has been set. They expected the works of God to be within their frame of mind.
The prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go” (Is. 48: 17). Our Lord and our Redeemer will teach and lead us and not vice versa. We should open our eyes to see the wonderful works of our Redeemer. These works of God transcend our opinions and frame of mind. They require our opening to God’s infinite power.
Indeed, we are preparing to celebrate a wonderful work our God, a marvelous exchange: God becomes man so that human beings can partake in the divine life. Certainly, this act of God is beyond our human expectation. Amen.
Fr. Lam Le is today’s guest blogger, reflecting on the day’s Mass readings. A native of Vietnam, Fr. Lam is now pastor of St. John Paul II Parish and St. Mary Queen of Apostles in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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