“God of hosts, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we should be saved” – Response for Psalm (79). The Gospel is a strong response, to let the plea/request heard in the psalm. Jesus speaks to us all and tells us to “stay awake”. There is no point in asking for God’s help, if we do not stay alert enough to hear and see what Jesus is offering us. He is offering all that he receives through the spiritual partnership that is the Holy Trinity. When a person finishes working they receive a P45, often with information of a “gift” of money for past work.
I wonder what quality of P45 will we receive at the end of our lives? We would want it to be a confirmation of our earthly communion with Father/Son/Holy Spirit.
Ronald Knox speaks of Holy Communion at/ through the Mass, as having no human standard that could compare or even be measured with any earthly terms. Knox goes on to say that we confuse value with price. Sometimes, we slumber in the presence of the heavenly bread and in so doing, we discard Jesus because there is no calculated value.
In these difficult times, we appreciate what we long for, partnership in God’s Grace through receiving Holy Communion.
At these times, we turn to the Holy Spirit and our Confirmation Gifts – Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, the spirit of Wonder and we in the presence of God. In these times, with the longing for the Bread of Heaven itself, we turn to the Gospel and Psalm and hear them exhorting us to keep imploring the presence of Christ. Knox reminds us to Christ’s Life giving action !I am he who bade this be done, I will supply what is lacking in you, come and receive me.
St Paul, in the 2nd Reading (Cor 1 V 3-9) “and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his son Jesus Christ and God is Faithful”
Stay awake and listen.
With love and prayers.
Fr Michael
This week all through Advent, I will turn off the T.V & radio etc, favourite programmes and pray/read scripture and Be awake and alert to the Holy Spirit.