Replies

Good afternoon, everyone. I, for one, am glad it's Monday. What a weekend ... got only a portion of my yardwork done before the great flood set in. I sure wish it would do that during the week so I can have my weekends back. More rain in the forecast for this coming weekend. :o(

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How can I trust God so completely? What if he won't come through for me?

Thoughts like these, so familiar to us, may have been running through the mind of King Ahaz when Isaiah told him: "Ask a sign of the Lord your God" (Isaiah 7:11).

Monday, April 8, 2002

First Reading:
Responsorial Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalms 40:7-11
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

It is better for a man to be silent and be [a Christian], than to talk and not to be one. It is good to teach, if he who speaks also acts. There is then one Teacher, who spake and it was done; while even those things which He did in silence are worthy of the Father. He who possesses the word of Jesus, is truly able to hear even His very silence, that he may be perfect, and may both act as he speaks, and be recognized by his silence.

-- St. Ignatius

On the surface, Ahaz's response seemed humble: He didn't want to test God. But Ahaz's refusal to ask for a sign revealed not humility but a reluctance to place his fate and the fate of his people in the hands of the Lord. Powerful armies stood poised to attack Jerusalem, and Ahaz was afraid. He was contemplating making alliances with Babylon or Egypt to help defeat these foes, but Isaiah told him that God would do the fighting and that alliances with unbelieving nations would fail.

Isaiah also told the king that he could ask for any sign he chose, as a guarantee. But Ahaz resisted. To ask for a sign would obligate him to God and call for an end to negotiations with other countries. What an affront! God had been so good to Jerusalem for so long, and still Ahaz couldn't bring himself to trust in him! God gave Ahaz a sign anyway, a sign that received its ultimate fulfillment when the angel Gabriel visited Mary: A young woman would bear a son (Isaiah 7:14).

God doesn't want us to trudge along on our own power. He loves us too much to watch us languishing, resigned to our fate as we try to solve our problems on our own. That's why he sent his Son to us in the first place: to raise us up to a new life. Let's not be like Ahaz, resigned to the status quo, assuming that we are destined forever to struggle with sin or to groan at painful memories. Jesus wants to transform every area of our lives! So let's surrender ourselves to him, believing that he has come to be born in our hearts.

"Lord, your love takes my breath away! I believe that you really do hear my prayers and see my need. Thank you for sending your Son into the world for me."

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Have a great day, everyone!

AC

Hey, look at this!!!

A young woman would bear a son (Isaiah 7:14).

How aprap.....(whatever that word is) for all of us.

Great post.

Unfortunately none of us can be seen but only heard here!

God bless.