Homily: Second Friday of Advent
Homily: Second Friday of Advent (Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6) “God’s Word Quenches Our Thirst”
I have noticed when I have been out hiking that trees flourish along a river or stream. Water is very necessary for a plant to grow. I have a small tree in my office. If I give it plenty of water, it seems to be happy by the window. If I forget to water it, then it is not long before the bottom branches start to get brown.
The Psalmist uses this symbol in Psalm 1. In a desert environment, like the writer lived in, the fact that trees needed water was obvious. Trees did not grow in the sandy, rocky expanses of the desert, but if there was a stream or an oasis the trees flourished.
What is the Psalmist saying with his example? In Old Testament Theology the Law of the Lord and the wisdom literature of the Bible was consider a gift from God. The precepts of the law were divinely inspired. If a person kept the law of God, then they could expect prosperity in their life. If they broke the laws of God or ignored them it would lead to difficulties.
The law of God was an essential part of a virtuous life. If one studied the scriptures and tried to apply the wisdom found there to everyday life, then a person would make the right decisions. If a person tried to exercise the virtues that they found in the word of God, then they would find peace in their life.
Just as water nourishes a tree the law of God nourishes the believer. If we want to live a healthy spiritual life the key to doing that are the scriptures. We need to study them. We need to pray with them. Scripture can be used for our spiritual sustenance in a variety of ways. The worst thing we can do is to ignore the word of God.
Advent is a good time to renew our scripture reading and study. A prayerful reading of the infancy narratives would seem to be a good spiritual exercise in the days ahead. The first three chapters of the Gospel of Luke and the first couple chapters of the Gospel of Matthew remind us of the wonder of the Incarnation. Reflecting on them can be water for our dryness.
Reflection Questions:
- What spiritual practices nourish me the most? What can I do different during these days of Advent?
- Is there a virtue that I have learned from praying with scripture that is very important to me? Has exercising that virtue made my life better?
Dear Parishioners,
This Sunday at 4 p.m. we will be having the second in our series of Advent Vesper services. Mike Maynard (one of our deacon candidates) will be offering a reflection on the infancy narrative in the Gospel of Matthew.
The stories of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel of Matthew seem to look at the whole even through the eyes of St. Joseph. He is the one who is prompted by God through dreams to accept the birth of Jesus and to raise him as his son. He is the protector of the infant Jesus.
We get a sense of Joseph’s deep trust in God and his great virtue. Come and hear what Mike has to say Sunday and offer your prayers. The service should last about 45 minutes.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark