Advent Reflection: Wednesday, December 15
12/15/2021
As Saint Louis University embraces the holiday season, students, faculty and staff members were asked to share reflections on selected readings. Today Katie Manion, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, reflects on Gospel, Luke 7:18b-23.
Reading for Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021
At that time,
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
When the men came to the Lord, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”
At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits;
he also granted sight to many who were blind.
And Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
Reflection
I love the Gospel from today. It is such a powerful reminder that God’s presence is not one we need enormous amounts of validation to see. It is all around us—we know in our hearts and minds that He is constantly working in and around us. He is sowing and cultivating the beauties of this life we share, acting as both a healer and a lover. He is responsible for our joys, even amidst the often weary world we encounter each day. He is in the people we love, the lessons we learn, and our sacred spaces and places.
A simple prayer for today:
God,
Help me to see the ways in which you have cultivated joy and healing in my life. In the same way you led John to seek your truth, I ask you to do the same for me.
Amen.
-- Katie Manion, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences
Newslink will be running select reflections through Advent. All the reflections can be found on the Mission and Identity Facebook page.