Sr. Eileen Reilly, SSND, of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, reflects on
the readings for Friday of the Third Week of Advent.
 â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â
****Friday of the Third Week of Advent****
Today's Lectionary Readings
Unpredictable!  This is the first time I am using that word to
describe God. But as I pondered today's Gospel - Mary's
**Magnificat** - that is the word that rose in my heart.
It is the same God who lifts me up when I am discouraged or sad, and who
sometimes casts me down when I become boastful.  It is the same God
who fills me when I am hungry, and who also challenges me when I cling
to my possessions.
So, how am I being called to respond to this unpredictable God this
Advent?  First of all, I need to acknowledge that every person,
experience, possession - everything - is pure gift from God, the God
who fills me when I am hungry.  And yet, when I forget my giftedness
and cling to those gifts, I lose the wonder of being so generously
gifted, and begin to feel hungry again.
Secondly, I am called to remember that the only true boasting, as St.
Paul says, is to "boast in the Lord" (1Cor.1:31). True boasting is
actually boasting
**of** the Lord. We boast about what God has done for us and what God is
still doing for us.
And finally, this unpredictable God of ours is calling us to be
unpredictable. This Advent season, can I reassess my responses to the
many appeals that I receive?  Can I rethink my gift giving to include
the gift of time and the gift of presence along with my material
gifts?Â
In this season so steeped in nostalgia and tradition, unpredictability
is hard. But our unpredictable God will be with us. Â
**Sr. Eileen Reilly, SSND, is Religious Engagement Associate for the
Catholic Mobilizing Network. She formerly served as her congregation's
NGO Representative to the United Nations.**
[link removed]
[link removed]
Forward this message.
[link removed]
Catholic Charities USA
2050 Ballenger Ave., #400
Alexandria, VA 22314
United States
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
Sent to:
[email protected]
Click here to unsubscribe
