The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, December 10, 2000
The Second Sunday of Advent
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Baruch 5:1-9
Psalm 126:1-6
Philippians 1:4-6,8-11
Luke 3:1-6
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
God's Old Testament promise has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ whose
self-giving love has provided humanity with a most needed and
precious gift: salvation. His saving act on the cross has freed us
from sin and death, and graced us with the ability to live sinless
lives.
God's Word created humanity, but the human condition is of our own
making. Pause and think what this means to a world being ravaged by
sin. Some cynically ask, "If Christianity is the cure, then why the
moral failures in Christian countries?" The answer is partly that
Christians haven't bothered to learn how Christ's gift actually
works, so they are unable to use it. Too many pay lip service to it
on holidays, say "thank you," then toss it in a closet corner.
Others blinded by pride and desire for autonomy, deny the need for
salvation. Those who suspect there is such a need are often unwilling
to pay the price, meeting the demands of Christ's gift --
relinquishing their perverse behavior and acquiring the mind and
heart of Christ.
We can achieve the latter by first fully accepting that we are our
Father's beloved children created in His image, whose lives must be
motivated and governed by God's pure truth and love. Second, we must
see that having been dead in sin, we are indebted to Him for having
sacrificed His only begotten Son to give us new life. We can only pay
this great debt by living in perfect obedience to Christ, God's
eternal Word.
Blessed Redeemer,
You manifested Divine love for us
by assuming human flesh;
give us Your Spirit to teach us and enable us
to return that love to You. Amen.
- Marie L. Bocko OCDS ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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