Daily reflection _ to see what you see and to hear what you hear

"TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE AND
TO HEAR WHAT YOU HEAR"
"Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever" (cf Ps 72:7).
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Today's readings should be a comfort to us. We have a tender image of the trusting child leading dangerous animals and we think of the Christmas scene with the Christ Child in the manger. Not only do we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but Advent also calls us to look ahead and prepare for the coming of Christ in glory at the end of time. Throughout this great season the Church directs us in remembering we are preparing for the "Advent" of Christ in the fullness of His mystery. We are deeply touched by the incredible humility of God becoming flesh in a tiny infant. But we also recognize that the Word of God becomes flesh, not just to touch our hearts, but to restore the world and everything in it to its true goodness. Christ Jesus came as a baby and will come in glory on the last day, but Jesus also comes every day to guide us and keep us on the right path to our heavenly Father.
Someone once asked me, "Unless today the Word be made flesh, who would hear it?" One of the greatest mysteries of the Incarnation is Jesus Christ uniting Himself to us so closely that we ourselves become members of His Body. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus rejoices and praises His heavenly Father. And what does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is the Father and Lord of both heaven and earth. He is both Creator and Author of all that He has made; the first origin of everything, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all of us. All fatherhood and motherhood are derived from Him (cf Eph 3:14-15).
Jesus also tells us to stay away from pride, which can keep us from love and true knowledge of God. He tells us to be simple of heart like "babes" who are totally dependent, and put our trust in God who gives us wisdom and strength. Jesus has made it possible for us to personally know God as our Father. To see Jesus is to see and hear who God is. In Jesus we see the perfect love of our Heavenly Father.
Today's Responsorial Psalm is a prayer for justice: "Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever" (cf Ps 72:7). We hunger for just structures, for social awareness and concern for people, especially those around us each day. Just as Jesus told His disciples, He also tells us today, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." That's a big "Yes!"