Thursday of the 1st week of Advent
Saint John Damascene, Priest, Doctor
Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6
Isaiah reminds us that in the day of the Lord’s coming, a “strong city” will rise, built not on human power, but on the steadfastness of God’s love. Its gates are opened only to the righteous and the faithful, teaching us that Advent is a time of interior preparation, when we let God lay anew the foundations of our heart. And the only true way to welcome Him is through humility. “Trust in the Lord forever,” the prophet urges, because He alone is the eternal Rock. Advent invites us to stand before God without masks, without self-reliance, without illusions of our own strength. Saint John Damascene, whose brilliance and holiness shaped the faith of the Church, understood this well: true wisdom begins in bowing low before the One who lifts up the lowly. Let’s reflect: Advent is the season in which we become humble before God, letting Him be our Rock so that He may build within us a heart ready to receive His coming.
Don Giorgio