2nd week of Advent year B
Isaiah 40: 25-31 Mathew 11:28-30
Theme: Wait for the Lord
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St. Lucy, virgin, and martyr. Her feast day is also referred to as the festival of light. Her name means light, and it is also said that during the Diocletian persecution, she took food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle lit wreath on her head to light her path. She lived her life serving the poor and marginalized people in society and ended up paying the supreme sacrifice with her blood. As we celebrate her today, we are all encouraged to emulate her in her life of purity and selflessness, that made her take great risk at the expense of her life, for the good of others. Service to humanity is part of our call as children of God and Christians. We should be willing to give a helping hand when necessary for the good of others, especially those who cannot really help themselves.
In the 1st reading of today from the prophet Isaiah, the prophet admonishes us to wait on the Lord, irrespective of how long we have waited already, because God will do it for us, but at his own time. This message was very necessary at that time for the Israelites, who had gone through a very difficult time in exile and were not sure of what awaits them in the future. The message of the prophet Isaiah was needed to strengthen their faith and give them hope that no matter what has happened to them, God is still with them and will change the narrative of their lives for the better. But they must be patient and wait for Gods time. In the same way the prophet Isaiah is also speaking to us as Christians in our own time. Some of us angry and sad at the same time, because they believe that God has refused to answer their prayers, just like the Israelites. Just like the Israelites, we are all advised to be calm and trust in God, because he will answer our prayers, but at his own time.
The assertion of Jesus in St. Mathews gospel should encourage us and strengthen our faith in times of difficulties and the challenges of life. He encourages us to bring all our worries and anxieties to him and he will give us rest, which means he will take care of them. So, if you have handed that situation in your life to him, all you need to continue to do is to trust him and wait. The grace of patience is what we should be praying for, so that we can patiently wait for his time. Sometimes it can be very difficult to wait, but your hope in God should continue to strengthen you. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.