Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent / Our Lady of Loretto Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30 Learn to entrust
We often encounter various forms of pressure. For instance, students in school may feel pressured by entrance exams; job seekers may face financial pressure due to prolonged unemployment; and office workers may be under the constant threat of dismissal due to performance indicators set by their superiors.
When confronted with these pressures, what do we do? I often ask my brothers and sisters who entrust their faith to me this question. Among them, some say, “I am willing to bear these pressures on my own;” while others say, “I have tried to bear these pressures, but I found that I cannot resolve them with my own strength, so I choose to lay low.” This is the normal state we have to face.
Today, Jesus speaks to us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (cf. Mt 11:28) He invites us to unburden ourselves, to share with him our toils, the things that weigh us down, and the anguish deep within our hearts. He is there, quietly waiting for us, silently listening to our complaints. He is more than willing to share all these with us, allowing us to find a momentary respite through his mercy.
Next, Jesus said to us: “Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” (cf. Mt 11:29) He invites us to learn from him, to imitate him, and to pursue only the goodness that God has bestowed upon us, so that the infinitely good God may transform us, so that our hearts are no longer filled with the pressures and trials brought by the world, but are filled with his mercy towards us, so that we no longer attempt to solve various problems in our own strength, but follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, face various problems according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, and solve these problems by the grace of the Holy Spirit of God.
Let us imitate Our Lady of Loreto, learning to entrust ourselves to God and generously carry out His holy will.
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
We often have the opportunity to see sheep, which, in our view, are gentle animals that are easily tamed. In rural areas or on vast, boundless grasslands, we often see herders grazing their own flocks. For them, sheep are the entirety of their lives.
Today, through this parable, Jesus intends to tell us that we, too, have been purchased by God at a high price. Because of the disobedience of our first parents, before we believed in the Gospel and were converted to Christ, we lived under the power of the devil. The loving Father sent His only Son into the world, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. (cf. Jn 3:16-17)
When we lose ourselves on the path of sanctification, the pastors of the Church of God come to seek us, constantly urging us to forsake those people, places, and things that lead us to sin and offend God, so that we can restore our relationship with God and the world that He has personally created. When we restore our relationship with God, the God who loves us will be filled with joy.
Today, let us continually discover in our lives the God who loves us, and fully assist the pastors of the Church in gathering the scattered flock of God from all corners of the earth.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Imitate Mary, and Humbly Do the Will of God
The Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception today.
At the beginning of the Gospel for the Mass, Saint Luke specifies that the name of the angel who brought the good news to Mary is the Archangel Gabriel. In his Gospel commentary, Pope St. Gregory the Great teaches us: Gabriel, who is called “the strength of God”, was sent to Mary. He came to announce that the One who humbled Himself to take on human form would put an end to the power of the devil. Therefore, what the strength of God proclaims, the coming heavenly power, is invincible.
Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, was troubled and alarmed when she heard the message from the Archangel. For at that time, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of David, but had not known him intimately. This was thus something that seemed utterly impossible. From a human perspective, such words might have sounded like a fantasy, even a cause for anxiety—a natural reaction, just as Mary showed today.
Then Saint Luke records the dialogue between Mary and the angel when she heard this greeting: Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know man?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:34-37)
It is evident that God always bestows abundant graces upon us in all circumstances and helps us attain salvation. Just as after hearing the angel’s reply, Mary trusted in God completely and, with her most humble answer, initiated the work of Christ’s redemption of humanity: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) This beautiful response has brought infinite grace to each of us—the grace that through her obedience, we will regain the righteousness of being God’s adopted sons and daughters through the Savior, Jesus Christ, who was conceived in her immaculately conceived and sinless womb. Through Christ’s preaching, we come to know God; through His death on the cross, we are reconciled with the Father; and through receiving His Body and Blood, our body and soul are nourished and preserved from sin.
Today, let us imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in all things, humbly do the will of God, faithfully fulfilling the mission entrusted to us by Him.
全属于祢 
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