A reflection on the daily readings for Monday of the First Week of Advent, by Father Perry.
+ There are two directions strongly voiced in the word of God today.
In the first reading from Isaiah, it is all about our “going” up to Jerusalem, and up to the highest mountain.
“All nations shall stream toward it.” “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain.” “Let us walk in His ways — let us walk in His light.” “Let us go, rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
There is promise. There is life. There is hope and joy.
But, we need to get up and go and walk our way to the Lord and to his holy places.
+ Then we get a very different directional message.
“Come!” “Can you come to my house and heal my paralyzed and dreadfully suffering servant” (but this with a twist)?
Can you send your healing power to my house, because “I am not even worthy that you should come under my roof.”
I beg you — let your healing power come to my house, send your healing power into my house, but please don’t you come into my house, because I truly am not worthy.
But please, please, please send your power — let it come to me and to my house! Please!
+ Such humility! Such faith! Such trust!
+ It is no wonder that this phrase, “Oh Lord I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word an my soul shall be healed,” should become not only a part of our liturgy, but at the “Eucharistic moment” — just before the “bread of life” — the Lord comes under “our roof” (into our own bodies) to feed and nourish us with eternal love.
And we, for even just a liturgical moment, are invited into profound humility, profound faith, and profound trust!
All of this actually “puts us in touch with” and “accomplishes our becoming” a little bit more united with the source of love and the source of life!
And we sing out our Advent cry: “Come, Lord Jesus. Come!”
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at perry.leiker@gmail.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
