Wednesday December 14, 2022

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“Waiting can be an unhappy time, but we don’t have to feel happy to be joyful. Joy is an interior relationship with Jesus.”

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Good News Reflection for:

Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
December 14, 2022

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, because You have come to heal, free and save our lives. May I discover Your presence in those who are docile to Your voice and in Your everyday blessings. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25
Ps 85:9ab, 10-14
Luke 7:18b-23
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121422.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2022-12-14-usccb-daily-mass-readings-0

To remain joyful, keep your eyes on Jesus!

Keep your eyes on Jesus! If I’m remembered for only one message, I’d like it to be this motto, for it says everything that needs to be said about how to get through life on earth with the most possible joy, the fullest peace, and the strongest faith on our journey to the glorious joy of heaven.

It’s the message of today’s scriptures. In the Gospel passage, Jesus is asked, “Are you the one?” by those who had heard John the Baptist herald the coming of the Messiah. “Or should we look for another?” And Jesus replies, “Look for me in the evidence. The blind see, the lame walk….”

“I am the Lord, there is no other,” God says in the first reading. “I created everything. Turn to me and be safe.”

It’s when we don’t feel safe that we go looking for our Savior in all the wrong places. When life doesn’t go the way we want it to, when problems seem to be pushing us closer and closer to disaster, and when our prayers are apparently not getting results, we turn away from God, often without realizing it, in search of escape and peace. We turn to angry, unloving methods of problem-solving, or to alcohol or food or shopping.

When holy obedience seems too difficult or unpleasant or requires too much sacrifice, we settle for the world’s wisdom and rationalize it as okay in an effort to quiet our consciences.

“Turn to me and be safe,” the Lord tells us.

He’s not promising safe-keeping from hardship. Rather, we are safe in the hardships, because he cares about us and will strengthen us and mature us and make everything work out for our good — and for the good of everyone else who’s affected by our problems. This takes time, usually much more time than we want it to, but if we decide how short it should take, we’re turning away from God again.

If only we could see what he sees, then we wouldn’t be so impatient. Then we wouldn’t despair or feel abandoned by him. But that’s why Jesus tells us to look for him in the evidence that’s visible around us. For example, when you hear others tell stories about how God rescued them from their problems, he’s reminding you that he will rescue you, too (or the loved one for whom you’ve been endlessly praying). And if you’re not hearing such stories of faith, go find a group of people at your parish to befriend.

Signs of Christ’s presence and helpfulness are everywhere! Rejoice!

He wants you to know that you belong in heaven, and from heaven’s perspective, the picture is much, much larger and much better than what you can see. Remember this whenever you lose your joyfulness.

Waiting can be an unhappy time, but we don’t have to feel happy to be joyful. Joy is an interior relationship with Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus — on the signs that he cares — and you will live in his joy.

For more on this use our WordByte, “Bringing Christ into an Evil Age” @ wordbytes.org/social-justice/bringing-christ-into-an-evil-age/.

2022 by Terry A. Modica

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