This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
    who teaches you what is best for you,
    who directs you in the way you should go.
¹⁸ If only you had paid attention to my commands,
    your peace would have been like a river,
    your well-being like the waves of the sea.
¹⁹ Your descendants would have been like the sand,
    your children like its numberless grains;
their name would never be blotted out
    nor destroyed from before me.” Isaiah 48:17-19

Invitation to prayer: Open our hearts, O God, and guide us to hear your word and live out your love.

Reflection: In this season of hope, the reading from Isaiah can get you really excited: God sets the right path before us, and – if we follow it – we will be blessed immensely and for generations. We are almost two weeks into Advent, the season where we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Jesus who – through His life and death – not only gave us the explicit details of God’s path but also showed us how good God is.
The thing is – as exciting as this sounds – in practice it’s REALLY tough to truly, deeply learn what God teaches and follow God’s commandments. We need only look at the millions and millions of people around the world who are marginalized, enslaved, abused, forgotten, and left out to know that we – the children of God – have a LOT of work to do to bring about God’s kingdom on Earth. Jesus calls us to solidarity with the poor, the hungry, and the imprisoned – how are we doing on that? We are called to welcome the stranger, shelter the homeless, and bring peace to the suffering – what’s our track record in those areas?

Let us not forget that Jesus, the precious infant Son of God, grew into a man that challenged authority, rebuked the rich and powerful, and died to save us all (including the sinners).

Prayer: God, we hope not only for the arrival of Jesus but also that your love and commandments will transform our hearts and lead us down Your path.

Closing: Thank you God for your love and peace, grace and mercy, and this time with you. Help us to love you and love all of your children.

Prayer retrieved from https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/advent-reflections-2020/70975

Peace and blessings to all as we journey through Advent, waiting for the joyous birth of Jesus.