At Christmas, we will celebrate the beauty of the Incarnation, when God became one of us. Emmanuel Arenas, SJ, reminds us that we can experience a similar joy in the Eucharist. Based on the readings for Sunday, December 11, 2022.
Do we realize that we get to see Jesus every day?
I’m Emmanuel Arenas and this is my one-min reflection.
We all long to encounter God, especially during difficult times. The temptation is often to become impatient and to seek our joy in something else.
In today’s second reading, Saint James urges us to persevere in “hardship and patience” and to follow the example of the prophets. Why? Because they knew that true and lasting joy can only come from encountering God.
Jesus reveals God to us in the incarnation and the Eucharist. In his recent apostolic letter, Desiderio Desideravi, Pope Francis says that “In the Eucharist and in all the sacraments we are guaranteed the possibility of encountering the Lord Jesus…” In the liturgy, God “allows us—here, on earth—to see [Him]…”
So, on this Third Sunday of Advent, let’s contemplate at Mass the joy that the prophets would have felt if they could see what we see in the Eucharist.
