Comments on: 3rd Sunday of Advent http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/ Sharing the Word together Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:44:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: ngouk ywjzb http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-45 ngouk ywjzb Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:44:59 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-45 ytgi qyhokfg rnwfhbu oumbi dvtncp gyntovxmq soxyamtp ytgi qyhokfg rnwfhbu oumbi dvtncp gyntovxmq soxyamtp

]]> By: Teresina http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-23 Teresina Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:46:36 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-23 ..Before I formed you I knew you... is not this very consoling! So even if I still do not know Him He knows me. What makes me think this Sunday is that Isaiah, Paul and John knew what their call was and fulfilled it till the end. Tha is what I pray for: a holy persevirance in striving to keep faithful so that I grow in my knowledge of Him the "infinite". ..Before I formed you I knew you… is not this very consoling! So even if I still do not know Him He knows me.
What makes me think this Sunday is that Isaiah, Paul and John knew what their call was and fulfilled it till the end. Tha is what I pray for: a holy persevirance in striving to keep faithful so that I grow in my knowledge of Him the “infinite”.

]]> By: intothedeep http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-15 intothedeep Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:55:47 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-15 "The LORD raises up those who are bowed down..." The visual imagery of someone who is collasped under the weight of life's troubles lead me to reflect upon the reading of the Lord's appearance to Elijah. Elijah had a difficult life (as all the prophets did!). He had just fled to Horeb; he was bowed down under the weight of life. "The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." When I am bowed down under the weight of life I expect God to speak to me in a loud way. Give me some sign, Lord! Sweep me off of my feet and shake me from this misery! But he does not speak in that way. God is not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire... He is in the gentleness of a still small voice that I am often too wrapped up in myself and self-pity to hear. He is often not the way I expect him to be, because I do not give him the freedom to work in me as he will. I want him to do SOMEthing, but I will not allow him to do ANYthing. Like "Teresina" said... "even when I do not see I know He is here". Amen. “The LORD raises up those who are bowed down…”

The visual imagery of someone who is collasped under the weight of life’s troubles lead me to reflect upon the reading of the Lord’s appearance to Elijah.

Elijah had a difficult life (as all the prophets did!). He had just fled to Horeb; he was bowed down under the weight of life.

“The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

When I am bowed down under the weight of life I expect God to speak to me in a loud way. Give me some sign, Lord! Sweep me off of my feet and shake me from this misery! But he does not speak in that way. God is not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire… He is in the gentleness of a still small voice that I am often too wrapped up in myself and self-pity to hear. He is often not the way I expect him to be, because I do not give him the freedom to work in me as he will. I want him to do SOMEthing, but I will not allow him to do ANYthing. Like “Teresina” said… “even when I do not see I know He is here”. Amen.

]]> By: srruiz http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-14 srruiz Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:52:30 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-14 Have you ever stopped to reflect, "What am I doing here? Does it all make sense? Am I making some very big mistake?" Even the greatest of prophets wondered . . . or at least had his disciples pose the question. I can just picture John in prison being tempted with such thoughts. I find the answer to this question in James . . . "be patient, see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit." Life is so like a farmer's life. One day you have the seed, or you think you have the right seed, but not quite the right soil, then you've planted the seed in perfect soil, but where's the rain? When the rains come, it's too much, not enough and then the joyful time of just enough rain, just enough sun. Then, there's weeds mixed up with your good plants. How much work there is before we can enjoy the fruit! Our advent is the time that it takes to find Jesus in one another, in my sisters in community. We want instant results. We want meaningful, joyful relationships without taking the steps that can lead us there. We have our reasons . . . antipathies, fears, too busy . . . want my own way. We have much to learn from the journey of Joseph and Mary. Look at the hardship and long journey they endured before Jesus came into the world. Then when Jesus came, the journey wasn't over . . . their journey was just beginning. Then Isaiah tells us what it will be like if we are patient and persevere: "They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee!" Wasn't this the spirit of Mornese? Meeting one another with joy?Making every stitch an act of love, every breath, every word . . .will strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak. . . to those whose hearts are frightened . . . STRONG! Have you ever stopped to reflect, “What am I doing here? Does it all make sense? Am I making some very big mistake?” Even the greatest of prophets wondered . . . or at least had his disciples pose the question. I can just picture John in prison being tempted with such thoughts. I find the answer to this question in James . . . “be patient, see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit.” Life is so like a farmer’s life. One day you have the seed, or you think you have the right seed, but not quite the right soil, then you’ve planted the seed in perfect soil, but where’s the rain? When the rains come, it’s too much, not enough and then the joyful time of just enough rain, just enough sun. Then, there’s weeds mixed up with your good plants. How much work there is before we can enjoy the fruit!

Our advent is the time that it takes to find Jesus in one another, in my sisters in community. We want instant results. We want meaningful, joyful relationships without taking the steps that can lead us there. We have our reasons . . . antipathies, fears, too busy . . . want my own way. We have much to learn from the journey of Joseph and Mary. Look at the hardship and long journey they endured before Jesus came into the world. Then when Jesus came, the journey wasn’t over . . . their journey was just beginning.

Then Isaiah tells us what it will be like if we are patient and persevere: “They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee!” Wasn’t this the spirit of Mornese? Meeting one another with joy?Making every stitch an act of love, every breath, every word . . .will strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak. . . to those whose hearts are frightened . . . STRONG!

]]> By: Teresina http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-13 Teresina Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:32:28 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-13 I feel I'm called to joy. Joy in the promise, (Isaiah) joy in seeing God's works, (Gospel) joy in the hopeful patience of waiting. (James) Each new day is full of promises, each day I must recognize God's works in me, in others, in sorrow and happines, yes because He is coming I must be patient, even when I do not see I know He is here. "Gaudete", rejoyce be of good cheer." I feel I’m called to joy. Joy in the promise, (Isaiah) joy in seeing God’s works, (Gospel) joy in the hopeful patience of waiting. (James)
Each new day is full of promises, each day I must recognize God’s works in me, in others, in sorrow and happines, yes because He is coming I must be patient, even when I do not see I know He is here. “Gaudete”, rejoyce be of good cheer.”

]]> By: SSN http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-12 SSN Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:03:57 +0000 http://lectioonline.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/3rd-sunday-of-advent/#comment-12 Beautiful and inspiring reflection. "...strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes to save you." As we begin the Christmas novena, we all wait in anticipation... I am waiting ... for the manifestation of our God, that His will be made known to me each day. I love the readings of this Sunday as they fill me with expectation and longing . . . prepare my heart O God, fill me with joy and hope. Beautiful and inspiring reflection.

“…strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes to save you.” As we begin the Christmas novena, we all wait in anticipation… I am waiting … for the manifestation of our God, that His will be made known to me each day. I love the readings of this Sunday as they fill me with expectation and longing . . . prepare my heart O God, fill me with joy and hope.

]]>