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Reflection for Sunday 12/4/11

Readings for Today:
1ST Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
2ND Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

Readings for Next Week:
1ST Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a,10-11
2ND Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Gospel: John 1:6-8,19-28

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION FOR NEXT WEEK’S READINGS
We may think prophets had some special frequency with which to talk with God, but the reality is that what they knew of God came from somewhere deep inside, not from a heavenly messenger or divine pipeline. Isaiah speaks with that certainty: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me” (61:1). He knows what God expects of him, the message he is to proclaim, and that God will act decisively. Isaiah is so sure, that he would stake his life on it. Paul, too, is filled with conviction, and calls us to rejoice. The God who rushes through Paul’s veins gives him the conviction to assert that we can be “pre-served blameless” (5:23) and live at one with Christ our Lord. Yes, Isaiah and Paul are Bible characters. But they weren’t born within its pages. Once, they walked streets and worked. They went through times of uncertainty and times of conviction. Look at John the Baptist. He had to send disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah, but he also exhibited great strength of conviction. He fully trusted that he was just a herald, and that he would be followed by one in whom the word of God would be so strong and pure that it would overshadow his poor efforts to proclaim it. John knew this for certain, and would stake his life upon it. We, too, know certain things for sure. We, too, can stake our lives on them.

“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, / because the Lord has anointed me; / he has sent me . . .” (Isaiah 61:1).

SHARING FAITH:
Do you ever get a sense of certainty where you “just know” something without having a clear reason or evidence? Where does that “knowing” come from? In what kinds of circumstances has that certain knowledge come to you?

LIVING THE LITURGY:
Think of your life in terms of the “job description” God has given you. Name the three or four things you think God has given you to do in your life.

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