ADVENT DIGEST with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT

Mystery of the day: Joyful

Table of the Word: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26

The WORD: "Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy." (Isaiah 35:4-6)

Theme: The return of the glory.

Inspiration: Prophet Isaiah prophecised the joy of the redeemed whom God out of love promised to turn "impossibilities" into "possibilities." 

As a "can do God or God of possibilities" who handles the steering in every situation sets out today to give us assurance that amidst lost hope He will certainly bring back smiles on our faces. This text is an extract form the format book of Isaiah which was written before Israelites' exile in Babylon. This pre-exilic writing reassures the us of God's continuous love fpr man not considering our derailment from the right path.

It is on this note that He commanded Prophet Isaiah to announce to us saying:

"Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy." (Isaiah 35:4-6)

For man, wilderness and wasteland are hopeless places where nothing good can come from. But today God has changed the thought of men around announcing that from these desolate places shall come fertility in abundance. Stating that:

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom..." (Isaiah 35:1)

This promise of God gears toward our human condition, assuring us that when man says: "It is finished", God with smiling face says: " It is not yet over, the glory of the later days will return as that of Lebanon." (cf. Isaiah 35:3)

In the gospel pericope we have seen the fulfillment of this prophetic declaration by Prophet Isaiah with the Miraculous healing by Jesus with authority, for he came into the world for this purpose (cf. Luke 5:17-26)

Let our challenges and care be presented to God in prayer. Let fear not grips us any longer, for He is coming with vengeance and recompense of God. Indeed, the King is coming, the Lord of the earth, and he shall remove the yoke of our captivity. Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

With purity unblemished, we, your servants may come, as we desire, to celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation of your Only-Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen.

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