Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
December 14, 2022

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121422.cfm

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, through the lyricism of Isaiah, God proclaims his majesty and omnipotence. But as awesome as that Power is, it descends over us in the gentlest form – justice and salvation like morning dew and springtime blossoms:

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let justice also spring up!
I, the LORD, have created this.

Isaiah 45:8

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Our God invites us all into that gentle embrace, asking us to deepen our hearts in faith and worship:

Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree
and my unalterable word:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,
Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.

Isaiah 45:22-24

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Our Gospel is a repeat of this past Sunday’s, only this time told by Luke instead of Matthew. It again reminds us of what this just and gentle reign of God will look like:

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

Luke 7:22-23

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Praying in these twilight days of Advent,
let’s ask to be drenched in gentle Justice
and life-giving Mercy
so that we may be living signs
of the One Who is to come on Christmas.

Poetry: Annunciation – Scott Cairns – a wonderful poet. Read about him here:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/scott-cairns

Deep within the clay, and O my people
very deep within the wholly earthen
compound of our kind arrives of one clear,
star-illumined evening a spark igniting
once again the tinder of our lately
banked noetic fire. She burns but she
is not consumed. The dew lights gently,
suffusing the pure fleece. The wall comes down.
And—do you feel the pulse?—we all become
the kindled kindred of a King whose birth
thereafter bears to all a bright nativity.

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Music: Turn to Me – John Foley, SJ