comfort
"Comfort, give comfort to My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem." —Isaiah 40:1-2
The Lord wants to comfort His people. This comforting is brought about by three cries. The first cry is: "In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!" (Is 40:3) Mammoth changes in the terrain of our lives must be made before the Lord will come (see Is 40:4). This is hardly a comforting thought.
The second cry is: "All mankind is grass, and all their glory like the flower of the field" (Is 40:6). In other words, all human beings are fragile and close to death. The Lord has a strange way of comforting us, doesn't He?
The third cry is: "Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God" (Is 40:9-10). Finally, we get the comfort promised. The facts are: "We have major problems and don't have the power to do much about them." The comforting good news is: "God is here!" Emmanuel, "God is with us," has come to us with His saving power (Mt 1:23). We have no further misfortunes to fear (Zep 3:15). He has saved us. The Lord is here!
"Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!" (Is 40:9)
Prayer: Father, may we "comfort those who are in trouble, with the same consolation we have received from [Jesus]" (2 Cor 1:4).
Promise: "It is no part of your heavenly Father's plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief." —Mt 18:14
Praise: As he suffered in bed with cancer, Clint drank liquor and watched pornographic movies. A caring neighbor called a priest. Clint had not practiced his faith for over thirty years. The priest talked to Clint and encouraged him to make a full Confession. After celebrating the Sacrament of Confession, the priest gave him Holy Communion and administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A few hours later, Clint suddenly died, fully reconciled with God.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 17, 2013
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