Daily Readings.
Reflection by Father Craig
These readings are quite beautiful today. The bold petition that opens our reading from
the Prophet Isaiah strikes the core of the desire of every human heart:
Comfort!
This is particularly applicable to me this week, and the previous
6 days. Last Wednesday I had some
surgery on my sinuses. The discomfort
with which I’ve lived for the last several years had become unbearable so I
sought out a medical solution. Somewhat
unforeseen though, the repair, the fix, the surgery, has proven to be anything
but comfortable. (I know it will improve, but hang in there with me for the
purposes of this reflection.)
The surgery brought with it side-effects that were
uncomfortable: swelling, bleeding, side effects from the medicine; lack of sleep
and unable to concentrate; work, celebrate Mass, etc. All of these things, at the time, seemed just
as uncomfortable as the original problem.
And, as I said, I know the light is growing brighter at the end of the
tunnel, I suppose that’s the purpose of this reflection.
The petition to the Lord today, “Give comfort to my people,”
is resonating with me in a particular way today.
The comfort the Lord brings is total, complete and eternal.
In fact, the comfort He gives to His people is that comfort for which our souls
yearn for until they are satisfied in Heaven. And so we make this petition:
Comfort, O Lord!
Some questions for our prayer today: where do I need comfort
from the Lord? Is there something that bothering me, weighing down my heart and
prayer, or that is keeping me from giving and receiving Love and Forgiveness
from the people in my life?
Secondly, is there a place where I can be an instrument of
God’s comfort to His people? Can I give my time and solicitude to a charity who
needs volunteers, or to a stranger, a coworker, or just about anyone who may
need a smile, a kind word or a helping hand?
Let’s pray that we not miss an opportunity to be an instrument of God’s
healing and comfort today even as we receive it for ourselves.
Today, the Lord speaks to all of us: “Give comfort to my
people!”
+In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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