Second Week of Advent
THE DESERT SHALL BLOOM
LAME PEOPLE SHALL LEAP
Introduction
At the time of the exile, in what is called “the little Apocalypse,” (Is 34-35) a disciple of Isaiah describes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and the Holy Land as a return to Paradise: no sin, no suffering and no fatigue even, with all sickness cured and creation sharing in the liberation of people. For God dwells among his people.
These glowing terms begin to apply more fully when Jesus comes and forgives sin and illness, the consequences and manifestations of sin. When Jesus appears, he comes to bring life to the poor. Yes, the lame people leap for joy, for God has taken pity on them through Jesus.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
you come among your people;
to those who are poor and paralyzed
you bring them your forgiveness
and your tender compassion
through your Son.
God, make us deeply believe,
that you want to liberate us
from our discouragement and powerlessness.
Give us a sincere, trusting hope
in your healing, compassionate love,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Reading 1: Is 35:1-10
The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
nor fools go astray on it.
No lion will be there,
nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
It is for those with a journey to make,
and on it the redeemed will walk.
Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
Responsorial Psalm; Ps 85:9ab and 10,11-12,13-14
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. Our God will come to save us!
Alleluia
Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth,
and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Lk 5:17-26
One day as Jesus was teaching,
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing.
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence.
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.”
Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
“Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
“What are you thinking in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he said to the one who was paralyzed,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God.
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.”
Intercessions
Let us pray for all people who are discouraged and lonely, that we may help them overcome their fears and restore their trust and hope. We say: Lord, hear our prayer.
– For the physically handicapped, that we may respect them as fully human persons, we pray:
– For our communities, that we may be full of hope that in Christ, we can build a better Church and a better world, we pray:
– That all of us may be people of joy, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, God of hope,
in these signs of bread and wine,
we celebrate the death and resurrection
of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help us to place in him our hope,
that he will raise us from our dejection,
from all our fears and resignation
to the evils of the world.
Let him heal us from our sins
and make us people who leap for joy
because of him who is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our living and saving God,
we thank you for your Son, Jesus.
Let him be so much alive among us,
that we may gladly and enthusiastically
continue his work of healing
the poor and those who suffer,
as we remember how he has lifted us up
above our miseries.
Make us healed healers,
who follow Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
To us, too, Jesus has repeatedly said: “Your sins are forgiven. Stand up.” Let this fill us with great gratitude, and help us also to speak to one another words of reconciliation and encouragement. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Reflection:
December 11
Luke 5:17-26
Inspired
Here, we witness a profound miracle as Jesus heals a paralyzed man, not only physically but also spiritually. The setting is crowded, and people have gathered to hear Jesus teach. The power of the Lord is present for healing, and four friends bring a paralyzed man, unable to enter due to the crowd. Their determination and faith lead them to lower the man through the roof, displaying an extraordinary commitment to seek healing for their friend.
Jesus, moved by their faith, addresses the paralyzed man, saying, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” This statement goes beyond physical healing, emphasizing the interconnectedness of spiritual and physical well-being. Jesus acknowledges the deeper need for forgiveness, highlighting the priority of addressing the soul’s condition.
The religious leaders present question Jesus’s authority to forgive sins, to which Jesus responds by demonstrating his authority with a physical healing. The miraculous restoration of the paralyzed man’s health serves as visible evidence of Jesus’s divine authority to forgive sins.
The response of the people is awe and glorifying God, recognizing that they have witnessed something extraordinary. The healing not only impacts the individual but also becomes a testimony to the power and mercy of God in the community.
This passage prompts us to consider our approach to faith and healing. The four friends exemplify a tenacious and sacrificial faith, going to great lengths for their friend’s restoration. It challenges us to examine our commitment to bringing others into the healing presence of Christ, both physically and spiritually.
Jesus’s holistic approach to healing—addressing both physical and spiritual needs—reminds us that true restoration involves the transformation of the whole person. As we encounter this narrative, may we be inspired by the faith of the friends, moved by the compassion of Jesus, and encouraged to bring others to the healing presence of the One who can forgive sins and make us whole.