Advent Reflection- Day #12 (Feast of Saint Juan Diego)

​In today’s first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 41:13-20), God promised the Israelites that, after being dragged to Babylon by their captors nearly 70 years earlier as punishment for their sinfulness, they will now be released, and allowed to return to their homeland of Judah.  God reminded them that “the hand of the Lord has done this!”  God knew that the Israelites would feel excitement and relief as they approached their homeland for the first time in decades, and God did not want them to miss the fact that it was his doing. 

How about us?  Do we recognize the wonderful things God does in our lives?  Do we realize that God is continually inviting us to allow him to heal our woundedness and restore us? Do we notice that God is waiting for us to come to him and allow him to heal relationships.  God is the only one who can do these things, and he waits for us to come to Him and be open and willing. 

During this Advent season, make time to speak with God about the ways you need to be healed, and invite him to change your heart and mind.  When you do, you will see changes that you didn’t expect.  When that happens, don’t forget that “the hand of the Lord has done this!”

​Blessings,
Carol Mullins