Advent Reflection- Day #24 (Feast of Saint Peter Canisius)

​​Today we have words of encouragement in the Reading, Psalm, and the Gospel! They are more than encouragement though – they are words that make our hearts SOAR! We hear the love letter from Our God - to Us - in the Song of Songs -  where we are the relentless pursued - but never pressured -  as God's beloved, (Let that sink in for a minute)  to the Psalm where we are promised that the plan of the LORD stands forever; (we are the) design of his heart, through all generations. And we can exult as the people He has chosen for his own inheritance!
We see this jubilation in action as John leapt for joy in his mother’s womb as Mary's voice entered his mother’s ear. John touched by His savior, was overjoyed! And we hear it exclaimed by Elizabeth 'How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me!'  Our God loves us!
So no matter our troubles or circumstances, No matter our faults and failings, Our God is pursuing us as His beloved.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust.
Let us joyfully wait for the celebration of the birth of our Savior as His beloved, His joy, His inheritance, and His Own. And prepare in joyful expectation for when we meet our God – the relentless pursuer - who loves each and every one of us!

​-Deacon Joe