Monday of the First Week of Advent
Our Advent pilgrimage has begun and already from day one our readings begin to drop markers and themes pointing to our ultimate destination. Look closely and you’ll find the theme of “great expectations.” Our critical and cynical world seems to thrive on finding fault with everything and everyone who projects a personal hope or an ideal which is new and different. Sometimes the constant struggle against resistance from all quarters makes the ideal seem out of reach and naïve. When the ideal and the idea are attacked and killed, even the gift of enthusiasm is killed.
The powerful words of Isaiah today lift the eyes and hearts of the people to dare to expect the Lord God to fulfill the promises of a new and beautiful Jerusalem. This was homecoming! The new and great expectations are based on the power of the Lord loving his chosen people even if those same people have lapsed and fallen from time to time. God doesn’t give up on his beloved.
The Gospel scene for today highlights the power of faithful expectation. All the elements of the story would seem to follow the usual pattern of someone approaching Jesus with a desperate need even though they were not Jews. In this case, the surprise element came in that the centurion believed immediately and completely. In his integrity and humility, he expected the promise to be fulfilled, even as he said, “I am not worthy.”
Do we pray and dare to have such great expectations?
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Advent, Daily Reflections