Advent: A Time of Joyful Expectation.

Wednesday 4^th December 2019. Isaiah 25:6-10, Psalm 23:1-6 and Matthew 15:29-37.

_“It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” *(Isaiah 25:9)*_ 

_“And they all ate and were satisfied, and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.” *Matthew 15:37*_ 

As at the time of Isaiah, the people who listened to him could only imagine what he was talking about. Nonetheless, as we see in the Gospel passage, the prophecy of Isaiah became a reality in the feeding of the multitude.

Dear friends, the message for us today is very simple: God never fails. One beautiful song goes thus: “The Steadfast Love of the Lord never ceaseth, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, new every morning, great is thy faithfulness O Lord, great is thy faithfulness.”

Even our Responsorial Psalm today sings of God as a shepherd who never lets his sheep down. A shepherd who gives his sheep repose along fresh and green pastures, who guides the sheep along the right path; who never abandons his sheep even when they walk through the shadow of death. A shepherd who prepares a table for the sheep even in the presence of their enemies.

God is Faithful. He never fails. Even in the midst of all the difficulties you are facing now, God has not failed you. Faith is all about expecting the best from God. As the song goes: “God is not a man, his words will surely come to pass, he would never fail, his word will come to pass.”

We have not yet seen what we are praying for but we are firmly convinced that our waiting is not in vain. As St. Paul teaches us: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him.” (Romans 8:28). 

Just as Advent is a time of waiting, our very lives on earth is an advent of some sort in that as Jesus would say, we must be like men waiting for their Master to return from the wedding feast. (Luke 12:36). Each time you are expecting something great and beautiful to happen, you are in Advent. The beauty of waiting is keeping your expectations constant.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, as I wait, may my faith remain steadfast. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the First week of advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 25:6-10, Psalm 23:1-6 and Matthew 15:29-37)