Patiently Prepare

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121717.cfm) reminds me that I should patiently prepare for God's coming. 

The readings this advent generally talk about us preparing ourselves to receive God and for his coming, which we commemorate this Christmas. The first Sunday reminded me that we should prepare, the second Sunday reminded me to go a step further and proclaim God in and through my life. Today, I am reminded that we should be patient while we are waiting for Him.

The second reading tells us that we should make the effort to be clean blameless as wait patiently for the coming of God. In the gospel we see John tirelessly working as he was preparing the way for and waiting for the coming of Christ. He knew his purpose and patiently did his role. the first reading we see that Isaiah did this too as he served God while patiently waiting for Him. 

We should learn how to wait.

Trees do not grow overnight. Flowers do not bloom in one hour. Fruits do not grow in a day. However, while we are waiting for trees and fruits to grow, and flowers to bloom, we should continue doing our best to take care of it. Water it. Give it nutrients, fertilizers, enough sunlight. We should do this even if it seems that nothing is happening. Time should not dampen us, rather, we should be faithful and be patient and do our best even if nothing seems to happen. 

We should do the best that we can while waiting for the right season for them to grow and bloom.

So it is with our faith. As we wait for Christ, we should continue loving Him, serving Him, doing good, praying, reading the bible. No matter how we feel or if nothing seems to happen, we should continue to prepare.  So that when he comes, we will truly be ready.

May we be faithful in doing our part in preparation while waiting patiently for God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Lord, it’s already the third Sunday but I i feel I am not yet ready. I feel that I have not prepared the best way I can. Sorry for being busy and distracted from what is important. Help me. Remind me. Guide me. I pray that you help me really prepare for you this Christmas. May I be patient as I wait for you, and may I continue to love and serve you through others as I do so. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 17, 2017

Third Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 8

Reading 1 Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.

Responsorial Psalm Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54

R. (Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
R. My soul rejoices in my God.

Reading 2 1 Thes 5:16-24

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.

Alleluia Is 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, "I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'make straight the way of the Lord,'"
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.