Yesterday, dear God our Father, you reminded us not to be stuck with the past and instead move on and look forward to a better future you have for us; thank you for telling us today how we can fulfill your promised prosperity and blessings to come:
Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:17-18
Forgive us, loving Father, for being stubborn, for refusing to listen with our hearts to obey your words; so often, we are like your people Israel who who were thrown into exile long time ago because of the hardness of their hearts - they listened to your words with their ears but never took them to their hearts which they followed into sin; we have abused our freedom and free will insisting what we want, believing more to our selves than obeying you, trusting you.
It is so true that we are like the children "who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn'" (Mt.11:16-17): your Son Jesus Christ had come, always comes daily in our lives, and will still come in the end of time which could be now and yet, we have been deaf and blind to his presence, to his mercy, and to his love.
Teach us, O Lord, this Advent to listen with our hearts to your words, accepting them truly and wholly to incorporate them into our daily lives and be surprised with your plans for us specially this Christmas! Amen.
