Tag: matthew8:5-11

One Minute Reflection – 29 November – Monday of the First Week of Advent – Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Psalms 122: 1-9; Matthew 8: 5-11

“Many will come from the east and the west and will recline with Abraham … at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 8:11

REFLECTION – “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Jacob … I will put my laws in their minds and will write them in their hearts” (Jr 31:31 f.) … And that these promises were going to be inherited by the calling of the Gentiles, in whom also, the New Covenant was opened, Isaiah says in this way, “Thus says the God of Israel, In that day man shall be confident in his Maker, and his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel and they shall not be confident in altars nor in the works of their hands, which their fingers have made…” (Is 17:7 f.). For most manifestly these things are said with regard to those who forsake idols and believe in God, our Maker, through the Holy One of Israel and the Holy One of Israel, is Christ …

And that He was going to be manifested to us – for the Son of God became the Son of man – and to be found amongst us who before had no knowledge of Him, the Word Himself says in Isaiah, thus: “I became manifest to those that sought me not; I was found by those that asked not for me. I said, Behold, I am here, to a nation that called not upon my name” (65:1). And that this race was going to be a holy people, was announced in the Twelve Prophets by Hosea in this way: “I shall call those who were Not my People and she who was Not Beloved I shall call Beloved … and they shall all be called ‘sons of the living God‘” (Rm 9:25-26; Hos 2:25; cf. 1:9). That is what was also said by John the Baptist: “God is able from stones to raise up children to Abraham.” (Mt 3:9). For our hearts, drawn out from stony services by faith, see God and become children of Abraham, who was made righteous by faith.” – St Ireneaus (c 130-c 202) Martyr, Father, Bishop, Theologian – (Demonstration of the apostolic preaching (©St Vladimir’s seminary press, 1997).

PRAYER – Grant Almighty Father, that when Christ comes again, we may go out to meet Him,bearing the harvest of good works, achieved by Your grace. We pray that He will receive us int6o the company of the Saints and call us into the Kingdom of Heaven. And may His Mother and ours, the most pure Virgin Mary be our intercessor and advocate. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.