John the Baptist proclaimed a covenant between God and us in which God lifts up the poor, cares for those who are downtrodden, and exalts those who are oppressed.
St. Luke demands that Jesus’ followers do no less. Our response to Jesus is to turn toward God and toward a life of service and concern for others. We must do so even in the quiet parts of our lives that contain conscious and unconscious attitudes and behaviors that do not uphold Jesus’ commandment to love God and one another. Especially in this time of Advent, we should turn away from being satisfied and complacent with our present lives and make our every living day a prayer of praise and thanksgiving that bear fruit in our actions and attitudes.
We are called to own up to our failings and seek the forgiveness of God. This forgiveness makes us stronger and more able to live the life God desires for us.
Where in your life is reconciliation needed? What role does prayer play in the reconciliation process?
Adapted from PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, available at the RENEW International store