REFLECTIONS ON THE WORD – 12/15/21 (Wednesday )

For the readings, click here: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings

Blessed Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent! In our gospel reading, St. John the Baptist was inside a prison, and he sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was truly the Messiah. He asked this question because of the doubts he had in his mind. Why did he entertain such doubts? Perhaps, it was because of the sufferings he experienced, especially inside a prison. He may felt that God abandoned him to the point he was confused about the authenticity of God's plan and purpose for him. Jesus reassured him by speaking to the disciples of John about the miracles, exorcisms, and the preaching He performed because were the signs that God give for people to believe. 

In our lives, we may experience numerous sufferings, especially because of the pandemic. Many people lost their jobs, stopped from their studies, experienced mental and emotional breakdowns, and other sufferings as well  Because of these crosses, we may feel that God abandoned us and He did not care for us. The truth is that He loves us. He did not forget us, and in fact, He suffered with us and for us. Unfortunately, because of our sufferings, we may forget the signs that God performed for us to believe. Besides the physical miracles in the Bible and in the Catholic Church, He wants us to remember the miracles He performs in our personal lives. He wants us to reflect upon the times when He cured us of our spiritual blindness, when He protected us from the temptations of the evil ones, when He cleansed us of our sins, when He made us walk in the path to holiness, when He raised us from our spiritual death and when He revealed the good news to our hearts. 

Let us always ponder the events of our lives and recognize His message for us. Let us always give thanks to Him for the graces, blessings and miracles He granted to us. By giving thanks to Him, we humble ourselves before Him, and we can see His merciful love for us. May we always trust in Jesus and in Him alone can we find true peace, even amidst the trials of our lives. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May God bless us and may He grant us peace. May He heal us of our wounds and doubts, and may He prepare us for eternal life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic