THE WORD IN ADVENT
Second Wednesday in Advent - December 10, 2025
Isaiah 40: 25-31; Matthew 11: 28-30
Daring to behold the Reign is the task entrusted to us by the Word this week... but the Word today assures us that we are not alone in this run! We are strengthened to strive for the Reign, because the Lord who is with us refreshes us, rejuvenates us and strengthens us.
Strength is the single most repeated word in the first reading today - within that short passage the term "strength" and its variants are so often sighted and everytime with an innegligible emphasis. However, it has at least two major points of view - one the source and the other the offer; one the giver and the other the gift!
First is the Strength of the Lord. The Strong One of Israel is the first focus - the Mighty one, the Holy One, the Creator, the Everlasting One, the Untiring One, the Most knowing One! The Lord is strong and invincible and we need no proofs to understand it; it is an inevitable experience, whether we like to recognise it or not, whether we interpret it in terms of God or not, whether we let our humility take its precedence or not! That everlasting all knowing One has everything prepared for us and is ready to accompany us in our daily strife... but are we prepared to receive the offer, ready to behold the gift?
Those who hope in the Lord renew their strength... for the Strong One offers to gift us with that strength. Espcially in our fatigue and failures, the Lord wishes to offer us the strength with which we can strive for the Reign, run and walk without getting drained, keep rejuvenating ourselves without getting consumed, arise from every single stumble and resume with the same energy, bear every burden with shoulders reinforced, and never feel over burdened or over worked, when it comes to striving for the Reign.
Let us recognise at every turn of our life's journey, the Strenghtening hands, strengthening us to strive for the Reign.