Monday of the First Week of Advent
(Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11)
In the daily mass readings during Advent the gospel passages
show fulfilment of the first readings. Today’s
gospel and first reading are no exception although the latter is not the one
regularly assigned. Since the regular
first reading was read at yesterday’s mass, today’s first reading substitutes
for it.
In the reading Isaiah looks forward to the time when Israel
will be purified of its sins so that it might receive the glory of the Lord. The gospel passage indicates that the
cleansing has taken place. Now Jesus
comes demonstrating God’s glory.
Curiously, the selection for the gospel does not include the
ending where Jesus heals the centurion’s servant. Rather it points to the centurion’s
proclamation of Jesus, the Jewish rabbi, as “Lord.” A Syrian
in the Roman army, he represents all the nations of the earth coming to
Jesus. Like the centurion, we find in
Jesus hope for the healing of our sins and for our rendering loving service.
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