Third Sunday of Advent

As time goes on, the coming child makes his presence known more clearly every day. And although the mother is full of hope and love, the physical reminders of the child's presence are not always comfortable. Can it be the child I love so much who is making me feel like this?

As the day of the Lord approaches, we long for him, we continue to hope, we try to live in love – but we get tired of trying! Can it be true that the Lord is coming? Here, to us? "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

Recall the answer John is given: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news brought to them."

A great example of perseverance in hope, despite a desperate situation, is that of the Chilean miners left in underground heat and darkness for 33 days. They cared for each other, trusted in God and in the many who were working to free them. Our prayer this week is the prayer of those miners: "Lord, come and save us!"

And so we pray for ourselves and for each other: "May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all." - 1 Thessalonians 3:12

By Mary Buckley CSJ