A reflection on the daily readings, for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent, by Father Perry.
+Power!
+ Power everywhere!
Why wouldn’t there be?
The Lord God has proclaimed it so in Isaiah: “I am the Lord, there is no other!”
And after a pretty good list of “God accomplishments” — “creating light and darkness”; “proclaiming and dropping down justice and opening up and ‘budding’ this justice everywhere”; “creating the heavens and designing the earth”; “making the earth a ‘livable space;”‘ and “being the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.”
Most notable is not (surprisingly) the “physical creation” but the “spiritual and moral creation” which is beautifully sung about in the psalm today, repeatedly speaking about justice and peace from the Holy One that is “rained down” from heaven so that the earth can “bring forth a Savior.”
And through this savior now in such an explicit and even visual and experiential way: “kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.”
As a result of such establishment of justice and peace and truth and kindness, “the Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase.”
Well, that would be so only if we would see and hear it and open our hearts to it.
Imagine if people really heard this message and took it to heart!
It seems that some just could not stop asking the question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
And the only thing that Jesus would do was to point to the Messianic reality before their eyes: “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.”
These were Messianic times. These were Messianic events happening before their eyes. These were Messianic promises being fulfilled. This was a Messianic presence like no other.
+ This was a one-time universal and eternal moment opening and revealing itself, and Jesus pleaded: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense in me.”
+ And it would cost him his life!
And through that costly handing over of life it would bring about eternal life!
Power! Power everywhere!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
