Saint Ann Advent Reflections 2022
"If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea..." Isaiah 48:18
Advent is the time for us to prepare our hearts for Jesus to come. This is the time we need to remember what we should be doing and what is really important. So many things during this time of year strive to take up our time and attention. Parties, presents, and all the hustle and bustle of the season are not where we will find our happiness. Isaiah reminds us that the words and laws of our God are where our happiness and prosperity lie. The world does not know what we need - only God knows.
The world tries to tell us who we should be and what we should do. The world judged John the Baptizer as being too zealous and a crazy person. He needed to be follow the crowd and not rock the boat. The world judged Jesus. He fraternized with all the wrong people and said things that were radical. The religious leaders were threatened by his words of love and forgiveness. The world had a preconceived notion of who the Messiah should be and it still has a preconceived notion of who we should be as followers of the Messiah. You can choose to be a follower or a leader. The wisdom of the world is not God's wisdom.
We all have choices in life on who we are to follow and who we are to be. The world expects us to conform and be like everyone else. As Christians, we should follow Jesus and make our own way in the world. We should follow the commandments of our Lord towards wisdom and prosperity. This advent choose the path less traveled and move closer to Jesus.
Kim Mangum
Choir Member and Youth Ministry Volunteer