Nov 29.pub

Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalm

Luke 5:17-26

Summary

Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,

and, struck with awe, they said,

“We have seen incredible things today.”

Reflection

The first reading is a beautiful verse that proclaims the glory and

splendor of God, and echoes joy and gladness throughout the land.

The responsorial psalm promises kindness, truth, peace, justice and

salvation to those who believe. Lastly, the gospel clearly points out the

benefits of faith versus doubt and skepticism.

Faith is the cornerstone of the church. Faith is why we are here. Faith

can move mountains and faith can transform lives - turning desperate

situations into holy ones. Faith is trust. Trust in a person, situation, or

in God. The common thread in all of the readings today is Faith. “Be

strong, fear not” and “Our God will come to save us” and “When Jesus

saw their faith, he said,‘As for you, your sins are forgiven.’”We need to

trust in the power of the Lord, trust that God loves us and wants us to

be happy, and trust that we are indeed deserving of the bounty of

God’s gifts.

The first reading is a poetic rendering of the glory of God’s gifts to us.

The joy in this reading is palpable! It is a

gorgeous glimpse of what can be, if only

we will trust in God and believe that we

deserve it. It is for those with a journey

to make – which is all of us – to leave fear

and sorrow behind and swim in the rivers

of everlasting joy. It is an invitation to