Monday December 4, 2023

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“By giving Jesus to the world through our actions and attitudes, we reveal the luster and glory of God.”

Good News Reflection for:

Monday of the First Week of Advent
Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church
December 4, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, because You call us to unite ourselves to the love of Your Sacred Heart. You only ask us to believe in You. Amen.

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

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Ps 122:1-9
Matthew 8:5-11
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120423.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-december-4-2023

The luster and glory of Christ in us

In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah proclaims that “the branch of the Lord will be luster and glory.” Think about how our Christmas decorations reflect this description of Christ. But Isaiah isn’t just talking about the Messiah; the “branch” of the Lord are followers of Christ.

When we spend time daily to attach our lives to Christ’s so that we stay close to him and improve in imitating him, we join ourselves to his luster and glory. We shine with his light. When others observe us, they should be seeing the glory of God.

That’s what it means to be holy. It’s what it takes to be a true Christian. And you probably are revealing the glory of God more than you realize! Of course, our sins block that light, and for this reason we should take time this Advent to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But also think about how your life reveals Christ to the world.

By following Jesus and imitating him, we become the branch of the Lord that Isaiah foresaw. By giving Jesus to the world through our actions and attitudes, we reveal the luster and glory of God.

True faith in Jesus means we believe in living the way he taught us to live. We deeply want to imitate him. We yearn to help others grow in the faith, too, because we know the value of faith.

Notice the kind of faith exhibited by the centurion in today’s Gospel reading. His love for someone else — a servant! — motivated him to go to the source of love for a miracle. His faith “amazed” Jesus. It was not only his trust in Jesus that proved he had true faith; it was his compassion for others.

How have you amazed Jesus?

True faith means we trust that God is embracing us and holding us securely, even when conflicts and trials shake us up. This trust becomes a light for others — a revelation of the glory of God — when we pass the love and forgiveness of God onto those who caused the problems.

True faith means we allow Jesus to be our Lord, our Teacher, our Guide; thus through his Word and his Holy Spirit we receive the best possible instructions for dealing with our problems.

And then, the good deeds that we do in partnership with Christ will change the world! His glory, shining through us, will spread the light of faith into the darkness around us.

To help you reflect on this topic, meditate with our video, “Spiritual Exercises for Supernatural Faith” @ https://gnm-media.org/spiritual-exercises-for-supernatural-faith/.

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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