Advent – Friday, Third Week
Friday, December 20, 2019
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness.
The readings today are all about signs. Signs from the Lord and messages from angels.
Sometimes we take these readings too literally and focus on the specifics of a young girl giving birth. Stepping back, we can see that giving birth is not limited to something only women are capable of doing.
All of humanity conceives when ideas, new initiatives to help others, inventions that can
alleviate suffering are added to our world.
Mary’s yes brought us Jesus and his Gospel message of a new order. But her life was also a testament to taking the hard road that went against social convention. How many trailblazers were accepted at first notice?
And when are we called to conceive something new for the good of society? Or do we passively sit back waiting for others to do the work? Are we willing to potentially be scorned for suggesting something new?
Do we continue to stay in systems or institutions that have lost their way and no longer help society? Or do we have the courage to conceive new ways of community and worship? Of more active participation in our governmental systems?
What signs are you seeing today? Will you become a Mary and say “yes” to following new paths?
—Terry Ruttger
Just God, you never fail to bless those who walk before you with upright hearts.
Teach us to travel the paths of our lives trusting in your care,
and make us eager to walk in your truth.
May God bless us with mercy, encourage us with love, and help us to walk this day in joy and peace. Amen.
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Find writers’ bios here.
Photographs by Theresa Ruttger. Graphic design by Baya Clare CSJ. Before copying or using any text or images from this site, please contact bayathread(at)gmail(dot)com for permission.
Some material on this site is adapted from Daily Prayer, Daily Bread, published by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille in 2004, and is used with the permission of the Editor and Project Director, Eleanor Bernstein CSJ.
