Reflection
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.
Isaiah 40:1
As people of this earth we are far from the union we all share within the Source of Life. Division and conflict are constant among us. They are present in all that touches us, physical needs, spiritual confusion, political division, wars, and natural disasters. Because of us, even the innocent creatures and the earth itself are suffering. Yet, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that we are still one with a God who loves us, who desires our well-being, who wants us to be comforted. The voice rings through the ages, ”Comfort my people.” It is our Advent call. Can we respond to that voice?
Prayer
May we be voices crying in the wilderness of our times for the comfort, equality and empowerment of all people.
Action
In my daily interactions how can I comfort the comfortless, comfort the broken, comfort the hurting? How can I support this effort in the public arena?
Suggested Reading
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2
Now all glory to God, who is able, through mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Let yourselves be consoled in the Lord.
Pope Francis
We see our charism of love of God and union with all neighbors as consistent within the context of our times and recommit ourselves to Jesus’ mission to bring about God’s reign. We seek to promote justice, be faithful to lives of non-violence and respond to the needs of women and other persons who are poor.
Sisters of St. Joseph Direction Statement 2010
I think that if you live long enough, you realize that so much of what happens in life is out of your control — but how you respond to it is in your control.
Hillary Clinton
We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.
Whoopi Goldberg
The past speaks to us in a thousand voices, warning and comforting, animating and stirring to action.
Felix Adler
Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.
Bernice Johnson Reagon
Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.
Albert Schweitzer
The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.
Nelson Mandela