First Saturday of Advent – Is 30:19-21,23-26; Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8
There’s a time when our Christian message needs to be loud – loud as it can be. And there are moments when, for the sake of clarity, we need to be quiet. Strangely enough, holy silence can make our intentions and actions shine with real transparency.
Those who are perishing should find in our eyes forgiveness, in our hearts kindness, and in our hands gifts given freely – no strings attached. Even if they oppose us, accuse us, or simply don’t understand. Christ’s kingdom stands open to them.
Saint Teresa of Avila puts it beautifully: “For, indeed, it takes great humility to find oneself unjustly condemned and be silent, and to do this is to imitate the Lord Who set us free from all our sins. I beg you, then, to study earnestly to do so, for it brings great gain; whereas I can see no gain in our trying to free ourselves from blame: none whatever.” (The Way of Perfection, 15)