Sacred Scripture
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10: 21-24)
Reflection
Jesus was getting a taste of success. The seventy whom he had sent out with no resources, had just returned full of excitement. The things that were hidden from “the wise and the intelligent of this world” – hidden by their very wisdom and intelligence – were being made visible through these simple men, these “little ones.” Every disciple needs to learn again to see like a child; we must be like children, Jesus said, if we are to enter the Kingdom of God.
Everyone has eyes and ears, but not everyone can see or hear. The sight is the same, the sound is the same, but the perception is different for each person. Everyone can hear the word of God is proclaimed. But the effect is not the same for everyone.
The Holy Spirit helps a person to experience the revelation of God through seemingly ordinary events. But for the Holy Spirit to work, it needs openness from our part, a willingness to listen and make available our hearts for the Holy Spirit to start working and reveal what is hidden. When we do that, we are entering a personal relationship with the Father. The child of Bethlehem invites us to share his joy of knowing the Father who knows us better than we know ourselves and wants to be known by us. The child of Bethlehem comes to invite us to share his joy with us, the only true and abiding joy.
Prayer of The Day
Christ, I pray that you will allow me to come to know you better each day. I love you and trust that you are guiding me through life. Not only are you guiding me in my life; you give me the opportunity to let others see you through the way I live my life.
Daily Note
A good way to prepare the paths of the Lord in this Advent would precisely be to grow in humility and in simplicity, to open our hearts to the gifts of God, to live with hope and become better witnesses of Jesus’ kingdom every day.
