Sunday, December 7th

Scripture

Is: 11: 1-10
Ps: 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Rm: 15: 4-9
Mt: 3: 1-12

Reflection

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant
You to think in harmony with one another …” Rm. 15: 5

God of Endurance…
In a world that requires so much of so many. A world where each day asks people to bear more pain. More hardship. Many reaching out with hands that need another hand to grab on to.

The world of selfish “me first” mentality where we are continually watching rights and freedoms stripped away. Many more hands reaching out in an attempt to reach those who they hope will help. Our world of hunger and poverty that grows larger each day. Hands reach out for food and jobs.

For the world where we hold a beautiful flower. Watch a bird or butterfly. Sit in the shade of a tree and ready out to hand on to what may not be here tomorrow.

God of Endurance…are you asking our hands to hold such pain?

God of Encouragement…
Place our hands in those who reach for us to help ease their pain or hardship.

Put the needed materials in our hands to make signs, sign petitions, write postcards to those we need to help us. Give us hands that reach for food to purchase and hands to stock the shelves of food pantries. Perhaps our hands could type resumes or help with job searches. Use our hands to plant gardens, bushes, and trees. And then to help nurture them. Hands to help the animals.

Hands that open outwardly to help. Hold another hand when needed.
Fold together in prayer.

Prayer

God of our comings and goings, help us learn to endure so we are able
to reach out our hands in encouragement whenever
and wherever they are needed.

Personal Challenge

Be encouragement for the world.

Linda Matonich, CSJ Associate
Hodgkins, IL