Thursday 15 December
Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel Luke 7:24-30 “Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet”. In the person of John the Baptist, there is someone more than a prophet. He not only announces the Word of God but also prepares the way before the Lord. We must encounter with him to prepare within us the way for the Lord. We must encounter in the wilderness of prayer John the Baptist, not as reed swaying in the breeze but as strong as that not even tempest can sway it. This determination is that keeps us in the path of the Lord. Not swayed by different breezes in life. Not swayed by different temptations. Not swayed by different opinions. But firm in faith and mission. That makes him the messenger of God. Advent is the time to prepare ourselves by determination to stay in the way of the Lord.
Wednesday 14 December
Saint John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor on Wednesday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel - Luke 7:19-23 “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?” Our life should be the answer as we have the life of Christ in us. The life of Christ which we have received in the sacrament of Baptism. That presence of Jesus in us should do the miracles, should give sight in those moments in my life when I become blind with selfishness; should cleanse the leprosy in me, leprosy of racism; should let me hear in those moments of my life when I become deaf to the cry of the poor; should let the dead parts of my life with revenge be raised to life by forgiveness and pardon. This transformation in us and around us is the testimony of the presence of Jesus in us. Advent is the time to underline the presence of Jesus in us with our testimony.
Tuesday 13 December
Saint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr on Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent Gospel - Matthew 21:28-32 “He answered, “I will not go,” but afterwards thought better of it and went”. Thinking better of what he said, and he decided to change what he said. This thinking better is facilitated by repentance and humility. When we think that what we think is right, there is no space for thinking better. We can think better only if we can perceive the effect of what we say and what we do in others. For this perception, humility is the only way. By being humble we perceive the effect of our actions and words on others. That will evoke repentance for those actions or words which hurt others or made them sad. There we think better of what we said, or we did, and correct ourselves. Advent is the time to repent and make things better.
Monday 12 December
Monday of the 3rd week of Advent or Our Lady of Guadalupe Gospel - Matthew 21:23-27 “So their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’”. We deny the truth for our own convenience. Either we don’t want to accept the truth, or we don’t want to change the truth. Both start with this, “We do not know”. When we say this there is already in our mind, the picture of the fact which we want to create with our denial of the truth. The denial of the truth to create our own “truths”. Jesus completely goes away from this scene. “And he retorted, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’”. Jesus does not want to share His truth to this situation. When we deny the truth or when we don’t accept the truth, Jesus does not want to share His truth with us. We remain in the darkness. Advent is the time to accept to truth to be in the truth of Jesus.