Advent Reflection- Day #21 (Saturday in the Third Week of Advent)

     Judah will be saved! Israel will dwell in safety! the exiles will return! and the LORD of Justice shall reign! Justice shall flourish in His time and fullness of peace forever! What a prophecy! What a vision! Imagine what the Jewish people thought when they heard the words of the 1st reading and the Psalm... What a joyous time it would be! Another offshoot of Jesse – one like David! No wonder they were awaiting an earthly messiah, a just King who would straighten out the worldly mess they were living in. One King to rule them all!
     But, we may wonder, did the Jews at the time ask themselves what their role was in making the world unjust, what was their role in making the mess? 
    The Jews looked outwardly for the answer, and Isn't that what we want from God as well? God send us a mighty warrior who can take control, someone with the power to straighten this mess we are living in! Come rule us with justice and fairness (as long as it's MY version of what is just and fair...). We want the strong to save us, not realizing that we - in our lowliness - can be made strong.
    God was made incarnate among the lowly, He was made weak, so we could be made strong. As Mary conceived the incarnate Word of God through the Holy Spirit, so can we receive that Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that can conform our wills with the will of God, to administer His Justice, His fairness, and bring His true peace to the world.
    Do we await this last week of Advent for a worldly King, or do we await the Holy Spirit to overshadow us in our lowliness and lead us in the true Kingdom of God?

​-Deacon Joe

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