Advent Moment: Short Reflection Thursday 11th December #advent

A very good morning to you and thanks for joining us. Today’s reflection is by Kirk Jacob. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. From today’s Gospel of St. Matthew 11: 11-15, the words that spoke to me were: ‘The Kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force’. I wonder what you think as you process the causes of crime and war on our streets or elsewhere. Do you ask yourself: ‘why does my senses have to tolerate so much violence? Can I ever be protected from it?’ Unfortunately not! I live close enough to Huntingdon, England where recently a train pulled up. Emergency services were called upon as 10 stabbings occurred within a few minutes in a train compartment which left these people seriously wounded. People were relaxing on their way home and one person with a huge knife went berserk to cause serious harm. The sad thing was that the same person injured a boy the previous week. So, how do we dare find reassurance in Jesus’ words: ‘Be not afraid’ this Christmas. We may conclude: Violence starts from harmful exposure to thoughts present in the human heart. Then, it has the potential to reach our lips mightily quick through careless, harmful words and finally, if unchecked, through our hands to reach out for weapons to use in our immediate vicinity. This Advent we pray: ‘Lord, please use my hands to be a source of healing where seeds of violence are germinating’. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.