Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 AND 23
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
REFLECTION: "The Lord hears the cry of the poor."
A couple of days ago we lit the third candle of Advent. The rose candle for Gaudete Sunday.
Gaudete meaning rejoicing. Rejoicing because Our Lord is almost here.
With many cities, states, and even countries going back into full lockdown, it doesn't seem there is more rejoicing around.
A number of my friends and family members are either in complete quarantine; have been ordered to close their business (again), since they are non-essential; or have been unemployed for most of the year.
I have spoken on the phone, via social media, or zoom with many of them. And I hear their broken heart. The loss of their dreams and livelihood. Their cries to the Lord.
The vaccine is starting to be distributed, and we hope for an end to this pandemic soon. But the economic aftermath is affecting everybody in the world.
Christianity doesn't promise us a life without toiling. Even Jesus came down to this earth and suffered.
So what are we supposed to do?
In our old city, San Diego, there is a parish called Christ the King. Outside the parish there is a large statue of Jesus with His arms extended. Somewhere in the mid 80's, vandals removed the hands of the statue. The pastor, instead of removing the statue, left it as is, and put a plaque below that says: "I have no hands but yours". This image has struck in my mind ever since.
Times are hard on everybody. And they are here to remind us that we need God more than ever. And we also need to do our part on showing His kindness to the world through us.
St. Teresa of Avila wrote a poem about this in the 16th century:
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
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