Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
December 3, 2022
Today’s Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120322.cfm
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we pray with Psalm 147 coming after the consoling passage from Isaiah:
O my people,
Isaiah 30:19
no more will you weep;
I will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as I hear you, I will answer.
Our readings today assure us that God sees and cares about our suffering. Like a mother who sings to a crying child, God wants to comfort us.
God heals the brokenhearted
Psalm 147:3-4
and binds up their wounds.
God tells the number of the stars;
calling each by name.
God’s lullaby is Jesus Christ. In Jesus, our Creator sings over us the melody of Infinite Love and Mercy. All we need do is calm ourselves and listen.
Jesus is the Divine Song.
He sings God’s Mercy
over all who suffer.
At the sight of the crowds,
Matthew 9:36
Jesus’s heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned.
All of us, at some time in our lives, stand amidst the troubled crowd. Our friends and family members too stand there at times.
Today, as we pray Psalm 147, let us place all our troubles, and theirs, — all of the world’s troubles — into the loving embrace of God who sings the lullaby of Jesus over us. Let us beg for all who are hurting to be cradled in infinite grace, resilient hope, holy courage and lavish mercy.
Poetry: from Rumi
Every midwife knows that not until a mother's womb softens from the pain of labour will a way unfold and the infant find that opening to be born. Oh friend! There is treasure in your heart, it is heavy with child. Listen. All the awakened ones, like trusted midwives are saying, 'welcome this pain.' It opens the dark passage of Grace.
Music: Quietly – Jay Stocker
Lavish Mercy 