A JOURNEY TO INTEGRITY - ADVENT 2017 - DAY 18

Integrity... to truly surrender to God

Third Wednesday in Advent

Is 7: 10-14; Lk 1: 26-38

The Word presents a contrast and a continuity between Ahaz and Mary. Within this contrast and continuity we can see three different dispositions to the action of the Lord in and through us. 

The first disposition is that of Rejection of the Lord - this is Ignorance, either malicious ignorance or simplistic ignorance, where the person is unaware or keeps himself or herself in a state of ignorance, failing to see the greatness of God at work all around. Here the person misses a state of grace the person can be blessed with.

The second disposition is that of trying to Appease the Lord - this is Indifference, always malicious! The previous disposition atleast we know that the person has rejected God and the person might or might not come to know the Lord some day. But this disposition is very deceptive and pretends even to take the Lord for a ride. That is why Isaiah gets furious with Ahaz and the people of his nature - he says they try the Lord's patience! That is, they try to have their way trying to now and then act as if, as if they are obedient to the Lord! This is radically against the third disposition!

The third disposition we can think of is that of true Surrender to the Lord - this is Integrity. Just as Mary does in the Gospel today, though she did not perfectly understand the situation around her, she trusted in the promise given by the Lord and totally surrenders herself to the Lord: behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word. 

This is our call to stay far from Ignorance and Indifference and grow in Integrity, that is a true surrender into the hands of God. When we learn to do that we become people highly favoured, full of grace, mother, brothers and sisters of Jesus, the Immanuel, God with us. 

CHRISTMAS NOVENA - Day 5 - 20th December

20th December: O Key of David

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Based on  Isaiah 22:22, Isaiah 9:7 and Isaiah 42:7, the reference is to the sovereignty of God's Reign. That the throne shall have no end is a Messianic prophecy that, God will be established the Lord of history! Liberation of the oppressed, the fullness of life of all, is the sign of the Reign.

The symbol is the key to signify the authority that the Lord has, in creating, changing and structuring the whole history.

The prayer is for LIBERATION... to be led towards fullness of life that is the experience of the Reign on earth. It is also a commitment to work towards, to contribute one's might and mite, towards establishing the Reign here and now!