Monday of the Second Week of Advent

“One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven.” –Luke 5:17-20

Something about this story makes me ponder my soul, but there is a little twist. We are the structure, and the crowd surrounding us is the world. Our Lord desperately wants to enter to heal us, but the crowd blocks Jesus’ every attempt. We will never push the crowd of the world away; we live squarely within it. So, if Christ is to enter, we must have faith and the willingness to tear open our roof and break down our walls so He may enter.

Lord Jesus, give me the faith to open myself to you. I ask that you forgive me of my sins, for what I have done, and for what I have failed to do. I open myself to you this Advent and invite you to dwell within me, now and forever. Amen.

Pope Saint Damasus I, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!