Advent: Catholic ReflectionsSample

It can be hard to keep faith. When we see a world full of injustice and violence, it can challenge us to the core, and the question 'How can God let this happen if he loves us?' comes to mind. And even though we understand the consequences of free will and the limit that enforces on God, it still can wrinkle and leave us confused. In our Bible readings today, Isaiah speaks of the God who redeems and rescues, and he speaks of how God cares for the poor. I wonder how often we have gotten in God's way and stopped God's provision for each other by simply doing nothing when others have been actively destructive or in need. Matthew speaks of the greatness of John the Baptist, the last in the line of Old Testament prophets. How can we, like John, like Jesus, bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth? Let us pray: "Let our lives be honest and holy in this present age, as we wait for the happiness to come when our great God reveals himself in glory." Prayer taken from the Weekday Missal, 1982, Collins Liturgical Publications, London, p.31