The first reading of the 2nd Sunday of Advent from the book of the Prophet Isaiah:
"Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and
proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated...In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God." Is 40:1-5
The announcement gives hope, it is hope for all who are longing for rest from their enslaving toil, to be free from suffering, to be free from one's guilt. From verse 9 to 11 the Good News is asked to be announced: Cry out to the top of your voice Jerusalem, herald of Good News!" The good news is that God is Shepherd, gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them in his bosom and leads them with care.
It announces the hope in the coming of the Shepherd, the Messiah who is the King who shows the face of God to all who believe.
My heart fills up hearing the words of comfort, of gentleness. What does it mean to be spoken to gently by God, to be carried in his arms, to be led with care.
Everybody longs for that loving presence and many times we seek it from other people. It is a great gift to find somebody whom one can be oneself full and still be loved and gently cared for.
God is the only One who can give that to us and yet, we as Christians are all called to follow Christ.
Like Jerusalem, Christians are being called to announce the Good News, to announce the coming of the one gentle and caring God, our Good Shepherd. BAYIERLINCP
This is the first day of this blog. We hope that there will be new members to this site. Check out Il Ritiro and find a desert experience here especially during winter. Try it and discover the place and its hospitality!