December 18: God’s Path / El Sendero de Dios

As God prepared Mary and Joseph for their roles and all-important work in bringing Jesus into the world, so have we been prepared for what God asks of us. This principle – that God prepares those whom He chooses for their role and mission – is true for everyone who is called to serve God, in whatever capacity. 

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we have been chosen and called to holiness. God has prepared us for the works of service and of love – and He has given us Jesus to be our Lord and guide, He has immersed us into the saving waters of Baptism, He has given us the support of the Church and its Sacraments, and He strengthens us every day to cooperate with His saving will.

In the final week of Advent, we would do well to think about and pray about Mary and Joseph and their critical roles in our redemption story. They always did the right thing, they were attentive to God’s plan, and they quietly went about doing God’s business. May they intercede well for us, especially in helping us follow God’s path – which they made their path.

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Después de que los Reyes del Pueblo de Dios no cumplieron su misión de guiar al pueblo de Dios, el profeta Jeremías anuncia que Dios los suprimirá y se erigirá a sí mismo como el pastor de su pueblo. (Jeremias 23, 5-8) Pero Dios mismo realizará este nuevo comienzo por medio de un retoño, humano y lleno de virtud, de la casa de David. Por medio de Él, Dios restablecerá la integridad de su pueblo, y será causa de nuestra fidelidad. Y, como nos dice el Evangelio de San Mateo (1, 18-24),  Jesús es ese Hijo de David, descendiente a través de José y de María, y al mismo tiempo es Hijo de Dios. Él es ciertamente “Dios-nuestra-justicia,” y Emanuel, “Dios-con-nosotros.” Él es Jesús, cuyo nombre significa “Salvador.”

En Jesús, Dios Padre nos has dado a alguien tomado de nuestra propia carne y sangre humanas, un perfecto hombre, pero aun así divino, Hijo suyo, por medio del cual quiere restaurar la justicia y la fidelidad entre nosotros.