Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37
Advent is upon us, and the readings give me a sense of hope, urgency, and Divine Love. In Isaiah, we hear humankind’s lament for relationship again with our God, the Holy One. There is a cry to God to heal us from our iniquity, to make our Creator’s presence known again in a familiar way: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are the work of your hand.”
Are we open to seeing God’s joyful surprises?
From the Psalmist: “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved…give us life, and we will call on your name.”
Do we call on God’s name? How are we enriched and strengthened so we are not lacking in any spiritual gift that has been given to us as we wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:5-7)?
“God is faithful; by [God] you were called into the communion of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor 1:9). This gives me hope, and I can feel and see God’s Divine Love working in, and through everything.
We celebrate the coming of God’s Divine Love through Jesus Christ our Savior, coming anew in our lives in surprising and delightful ways with new possibilities of sharing God’s love with others. We are being asked to “beware, keep alert; for we do not know when the time will come…Keep awake” (Mark 13:32-39). To be ever mindful of God the Creator, Jesus the Word, and the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Sr. Dorothy Handrigan, SSJD
