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Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Readings of the Day 
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Today's responsorial psalm refrain provides a poignant message
that I often need to slow down and reflect upon: "Lift up your
heads and see; your redemption is near at hand."

"Lift up your heads." How often I get trapped into
thinking working harder and faster will provide a better result. There
is always so much to do for those that are coming to us that I trick
myself into thinking that the solution is right around the corner if I
do just a little more. Working hard for a specific task absolutely has
its place, but when I go beyond and it becomes an everyday occurence,
then my perspective narrows. I miss the big picture that in the end my
impacts, as important as they are, can only go so far on my own.

"See." I need to lift up my head to recognize what I can
do and where I need to rely on help from others, especially from the
Lord. He will bring to perfection my best attempts at assisting those
we serve.

"Your redemption is at hand." How freeing it is to know of
salvation and the good that is to come for those we serve. Truly
trusting in this gives me the prespective needed to focus on what I am
called to do, because I know there is a greater good working on the
areas beyond my capacities and capabilities.  

We are not alone in our ministry- not individually, not
programatically, nor by agency. Our work on, with, and for the margins
of our communities requires each and every one of us doing our part,
however incomplete our work may feel at the time.

These are undoubtly simple messages - ones we all know - but how often
do we take the time to put them into practice? I pray that we take
that time to intentionally lift up our heads, see and recognize the
good around us, and remember the collective impact of our fellow
ministers across our network.

Michael Smith is Chief Program Officer for Catholic Charities Maine
and a member of the CCUSA Management and Administration Steering
Committee.




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