Advent Daily Reflections Header

 



Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Readings of the Day
[link removed]

 

This Gospel
reading from Luke, often known as the Canticle of Zechariah, is prayed
daily by
many as a part of morning prayer in the Divine Office. It is a way to
begin the
day by reflecting on God's promises, mercy and faithfulness.

These
promises are essential to our ministry to care for those in our
communities. We
work very hard to serve our neighbors, and we can all think of the
wonderful
ways our staff and programs are there just at the right time and just
in the
right ways to bring healing, break isolation, and provide food to
those that
need it. We also know of our staff who take the extra steps to be
there-
staying late to help the single mom that is running behind schedule or
making
the extra call to ensure a referral goes through. Each and every day
we can see
the myriad of ways that God's promises and faithfulness work
through us. They
are truly miracles.

We also
know that there are so many others that we are not able to reach and
those to
whom our assistance just falls short. So, we get back up the following
day and
work again, we work harder, and yet our humanity necessarily limits
us, and
there are people still in need.

So, thank
God for our faith. Thank God for His promises. For we know that what
we cannot
complete, He can. We know that he will remain faithful to those we
serve. We
may see it or we may not, yet we still believe in that mercy. For
through Him
even death turns into resurrection, so we need not grow weary in our
efforts. We
can confidently return to our mission to do our absolute best, and
then turn it
over to Him with full confidence that one day, and in some way, all
will be
restored for what is rightly deserved for those we serve. 

I pray that
we take the time to continually go back and reflect on His promises to
renew
those we serve as well as ourselves.

 

Michael Smith is Director of Mission at Catholic Charities Maine and a
long-serving member of Catholic Charities USA's Parish Social Ministry
Leadership Team.

 

 

 

 

 




View this message in your browser. 
[link removed]

Forward this message.
Update your email preferences.
[link removed]
[link removed]