Deacon Tom Roberts, President & CEO of Catholic Charities of Southern
Nevada, reflects on the readings for Monday of the First Week of Advent.
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****Monday of the First Week of Advent****
Today's Lectionary Readings
As we begin our Advent journey, we're invited to release and refresh
ourselves from the many wounds we carry, both personally and
professionally. We need to make fresh room in our hearts for the
presence of the baby Jesus, who comes as a vulnerable child, and the
human and divine healer and new light of the world.
No doubt, you and I derive satisfaction and gratitude from the amazing
work we do alongside our colleagues, team members, volunteers, and
donors. Yet we also tend to shoulder the sadness and wounds brought to
us by those we serve. It can seem impossible not to carry some of these
wounds, since we all step into the hurricane every day through our
service to some of God's most vulnerable children - our clients. We
are not immune to their suï¬ering, which can sometimes exacerbate our
own.
Today's beautiful Gospel carries an ironic and lasting tribute to
those who lead in providing care, and who also suï¬er. The centurion,
an unlikely figure in a message of healing, asks Jesus for healing - not
for himself, but for one of his servants. As he always does, Jesus casts
the net widely to ensure that no one is left out of the immersion of
mercy and compassion he brings through his presence, his teachings, his
suï¬ering, and his death and resurrection. The Savior's healing
presence also heals the centurion, whose plea for healing is recited
each and every time we ask for the Lord's presence to heal us through
the reception of Holy Communion.
This is the net of mercy and healing we all try to extend to those who
suï¬er in our midst. May we also step into the realm of mercy and
healing for ourselves as humble and flawed servants. Like the centurion,
I need to be reminded to ask God to relieve the burden I carry for
others, while also humbly asking for healing of my own wounds.
God, please help me remember that this is your Catholic Charities. Amen.
**Deacon Tom Roberts is President & CEO of Catholic Charities of
Southern Nevada. **
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