Week 1: Monday

Many peoples shall come and say: "Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)

Reflection

Christ is the ultimate center of meaning in the universe. It is through Christ that all people will be led to the Father. How can we hope to achieve a world in which all will seek the path of God? Only when men and women are working to achieve the unity that Christ's redemption promises us.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." Matthew 8:5-11

As the above passage continues, Jesus will marvel at the faith of the Gentile centurion. He will then send the centurion home with the assurance that his servant is healed. Matthew will note: "And the servant was healed at that very moment."

The centurion had no doubt that Jesus could heal from a distance. It was only a question of whether Jesus would choose to heal the servant at all. When Jesus says to him, "Go. Let it be done for you according to your faith," the centurion fully believes that the servant is indeed healed.

It might be worthwhile to think about the level of my faith. When I pray and ask God to do something, and it doesn't happen, what kinds of thoughts cross my mind?

• Do I wonder if God could really do it.

• Do I believe that God could, and wonder why God wouldn't, and decide that it's more or less because of my own sinfulness?

• Do I believe that God could, and trust that God didn't because there's more to it than I can see?

Don't answer too quickly.

Talk to the Lord about it.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Advent Action

Perform an act of kindness for someone you do not know.

Prayer