GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 7TH DECEMBER 2016
WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK IN ADVENT
1ST READING: Isaiah 40:25-31
PSALM: Psalm 103:1-4,8,10
GOSPEL: Matthew 11:28-30
THEME: GOD CARES
History has recorded countless breakthroughs of broken persons who, having come to their wits’ end, chose to let go and let God. When God enters into a story, irrespective of which chapter you have reached, he changes the conclusion.
Our First Reading, taken from the Book of Isaiah (Deutero-Isaiah), gives us a sense of the discouragement that the Jews who were under the dominion of the Babylonians felt. Their lament is captured in Isaiah 40:27 – “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God.”
In response to their lament, the prophet tells them, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those 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” (Isa 40:28-31).
In our Gospel text, Jesus also addresses a crowd who felt burdened by the scribal interpretations of the Torah. The Pharisees had managed to generate about 613 laws from the Torah to be obeyed if one would find favour with God. The worship of the Lord which was meant to bring freedom and salvation had become a burden leading the people rather into enslavement.
Jesus tells them, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30). It was a call to discipleship and an obedient submission to the teaching of Christ.
Like the Jews in exile and the crowd that Jesus addressed, there are moments in life when we too are burdened by the unpalatable situations we find ourselves in. In such moments, we can turn to the Lord and trust in him – “He forgives all your offences, cures all your diseases, he redeems your life from the abyss, crowns you with faithful love and tenderness; he contents you with good things all your life, renews your youth like an eagle’s” (Psalm 103:3-5).
If at any point in time, you start to feel that no one cares about you, just remember that the Lord does. If only you would offer him some space and time in your personal world, he would influence greatly the unfolding chapters of your life and give you a reason to smile again.
Prayer: Come into my world, Lord Jesus; come into my heart. Take the wheel of my life and bring me out of the ditch. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).