Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Note: This year Advent is nearly four full weeks (short one day), thus some of the readings this week are often not heard in the days prior to December 17. This is one of them.
Today’s passage from Isaiah 54 takes us to the Easter Vigil (it is one of the seven Old Testament readings). “Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” Whether in Advent leading up to Christmas or at the Easter Vigil, the message of the prophet is the same: “my love shall never leave you.”
It is helpful to note some of the other texts of the liturgy of the day. The entrance antiphon: “You, O Lord, are close, and all your ways are truth. From of old, I have known of your decrees, for you are eternal.” We are acknowledging God’s closeness to us – in every season and time. In the collect, we pray: “Unworthy servants that we are, O Lord, grieved by the guilt of our deeds, we pray that you may gladden us by the saving advent of your Only Begotten Son.” As always, we recall that we are sinners, yet sinners redeemed by the Lord whose coming we celebrate again this year.
Come O Lord, do not delay, stir up your power and come, come and save your people, come and set us free.
Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB
Posted in Articles for Advent, Daily Reflections