Sisters and brothers in Christ, this is such a beautiful verse from today's first reading from the Book of Sirach: "Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship." It reminds me that we have a lifetime to encounter our Lord and Savior Jesus, to foster a lifelong relationship with Him who loves us unconditionally, and then to died in His friendship and enter Paradise in His loving embrace.
Yet, it is unfortunate that so many reject this gift of friendship from our Lord and our God, even when God puts people in their lives to point Jesus out to them and invite them into a relationship with Christ. Jesus talks about this in today's Gospel, because John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, yet he was beheaded. Then Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man, suffered in the most excruciating way - scourged and death on the Cross.
As we continue our preparation for the anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his Second Coming, let us reflect on the ways we have rejected Christ in our lives, how we turned away from him, and denies his love for us. Then, let us repent and ask God's forgiveness (there are Advent Penance Services throughout the Diocese of Austin) and ask the Spirit of God to humble us so that we can truly receive Baby Jesus in our hearts this Christmas and renew our relationship with our Lord and our God.
. . .
Gospel of the Day
As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
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