Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Readings of the Day

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.

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