Monday of the Second Week in Advent
Accepting the call from Jesus and following through is a step by step process. We who take our call seriously will readily attest to this through experiential knowledge. We trudge in hope, exert our will to develop our faithfulness, and try our level best to grow into the intimacy with God necessary to live out our personal call. That is not to say all is weary, gray, and toilsome. Every moment granted by God can be accepted as an invitation to joy, an occasion to advance peace, and an opportunity to reveal the truth of salvation. Advent reminds us of these things in a uniquely refreshing way. But not one of us can deny that life is chock-full of struggle. And we all appreciate frequent reminders of the ultimate purpose of the struggles we face. When we consciously place our focus on Jesus it is possible to stay engaged, push forward, and emerge on the other side of struggle with a more vibrant faith, a renewed hope, and a deeper sense of peace.
In the reading from Saint Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is in a house teaching in the presence of a large crowd, including Pharisees and teachers who had come from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. A group of men are struggling to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Because of the huge crowd, there is no way in the front or back door, nor any way around or through. Undeterred, the companions ascend to the roof, lower the stretcher through an opening in the roof, and place their friend at the feet of Jesus. The paralytic is cured and his sins forgiven.
There are always obstacles in our efforts to follow or bring others into the presence of Jesus—ordinary distractions in good times and formidable barriers in bad. Each day of the walk to follow Jesus must begin with prayer to the Holy One, begging for strength and focus and grace. And all is well. Believe this—all is well. In all our struggles, the Chosen One of God is with us always and the power of the Holy Spirit will always prevail—even in the face of what seems overwhelming odds, evil, and indifference. Our perseverance, through to the far side of any struggle, will surely be met by the presence, action, and love of Jesus, the One who has called us.
--Gail Lyman