Advent Reflection for December 10 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11/Matthew 18:12-14

Invitation to Prayer: Pray to be the voice in the wilderness, crying out the glad tidings of good news!

Christ, our shepherd, cares for all of His flock. Remember to be compassionate to the lambs that have gone astray, joyously welcome them into the fold, and keep them in your prayers.

Reflection: “Give comfort to my people.”

I was blessed to be raised in a very small church with a congregation of about sixty who had faith to move mountains.

Danny was a boy in my class in elementary school. He came from a poor family. His mother was wheelchair bound and his father had difficulty keeping a job. Danny’s sisters attended Sunday School at my church. One year, Danny showed up at my home Christmas morning. He spoke to my parents and told them his family had no food for Christmas day and no gifts for his little sisters. Immediately my mom was on the phone to the women of the church. They organized a week’s worth of food for the family, including a wonderful Christmas dinner, some of which had been intended for their own tables. Meanwhile my dad and my grandpa contacted the Salvation Army for gifts for the children, for Danny, and for his mother. They drove downtown on a snowy Christmas day to pick up the items. Daddy and Grandpa delivered all to the family before noon.

I have four sisters. My mom asked each of us to give up one of the gifts we had received that morning to Danny’s family. It’s funny because that’s the only part of the morning I don’t remember. I only remember this entire group of spirit-filled people coming together to “give comfort” to God’s people.

During this Advent season, how am I giving comfort?

Prayer: Father, let me be a comfort where needed. Let me be the herald of your good tidings. Drive away my fear when it comes to sharing your good news. Help me to be like Jesus, a shepherd to lead the stray lambs home. Amen.

Closing: Find an expression to use when joyful things happen… and use it often because joyful things are happening all around you.

Debbie Weitz is grateful for the community of saints who helped raise her.

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