Presence

I ask for the grace to be still in the Sacred Space of this retreat.

First Reading

Isaiah 48:17-19 NRSVue

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go. O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river and your success like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.

First Reading Reflection

The Lord is presented in this reading as teaching what is good for us, leading us in the ways of God. God has our good always in mind. What God asks of us will do us good and bring us deep joy; if this does not happen, it is not God’s asking. What God asks is that we love our neighbour and love our Lord. If the laws of religion do not lead to that, they are erroneous laws. To love, to give generously and to place God as first among our loves brings true happiness.

Gospel

Matthew 11:16-19 NRSVue

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Gospel Reflection

Often people don’t know what they want. People found John the Baptist too severe, and they found Jesus too joyful and inclusive of everyone. Religion can cause conflict, especially with differences of interpretation as to what’s right and what’s wrong. In times of conflict, we need to find the wisdom to live the Gospel. Wisdom can be found in many places: the teachings of our Church, the wisdom of our saints, the insights of prayer. True wisdom is openness to the truth of Jesus. The truth of the Advent season is to learn good ways of life from the mystery of God being born so weak, dependent and small among us. God is with us, in every struggle, every trial, every conflict and every contradiction that we suffer. He is a God not of rash judgement or “side taking”, but of humility, gentleness and understanding.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, I pray that I can trust in the wisdom of your teachings and follow your example, even when I find it hard to understand and fully accept them. I know you have my best interests at heart, and that you also have the best interests of every single other person at heart, and that there is no conflict between the two. Help me to surrender to your ways and to your love, and to love others as you love them, and as you love me. Amen