Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
I am not one to dwell on power too much. I hesitate at the sense of hierarchy it can create, the sense of one person being greater than another because of the responsibilities of either person. So it struck me in today’s Gospel when Jesus positions John the Baptist as greater all who are born of a woman, but yet lesser than any who are in Heaven which, at that time, was a place of turmoil and violence. What consoled this dynamic for me was reading this Gospel in light of today’s first reading from Isaiah.
In this first reading, the prophet Isaiah shares that Jesus will come to help each of us in our lowliness so that we may overcome the greatest hills, storms, thirst, and hunger. I’m often not one to think of my lowliness, especially in terms of social justice and the struggle others have to obtain their basic needs and experience their basic human rights. However, I believe that without trivializing the challenges that others face, it is an important reminder of how lowly we actually are, how challenging free will and the existence of sin makes our lives, and therefore how much we need Christ to come and help us overcome what might feel like large hurdles in our lives. We need Christ to help us in this way so that we might walk more closely with Him and with others, and allow his grace to spread like wildfire in our broken world. Our humanity is what makes us lowly and reminds of us our need for Christ.
In what ways might you feel lowly this Advent season? How does that lowliness remind you of your need for Christ? How has or could Christ help you overcome that lowliness?
Who in your life might feel lowly this Advent season? How might you walk with them more closely and help them find Christ amongst their need?
As we reflect on these questions today, amidst this season of Advent let us not forget the joyful hope that we embody as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Let us also not forget the many ways that God has already looked with favor upon us in our lowliness, and rejoice in the joy of that favor.
“My Spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor upon His lowly servant.” - Lk 1:47-48
- Mike Bennett