Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Psalm 118
Advent may be four weeks long, but it always seems to go by in a flash. December tends to be one of the busier months, as we strive to meet year-end deadlines at work, school and home, attend every holiday gathering to which we have been invited and complete the myriad preparations for Christmas. In a big, bustling city like New York, life can feel more frenetic than usual, which is precisely why Advent is welcome. It calls on us to slow down, reflect, focus on what truly matters.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm encourages us to seek refuge in the Lord: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man…than to trust in princes.” In a world full of distractions and things that are temporary or fleeting, God is the sole constant, enduring, forever. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever,” Psalm 118 exhorts us. God’s goodness and love are so great that they are worthy of emphatic gratitude. His very essence is goodness and love, and this alone is reason enough to give thanks to him.
The theme of the first week of Advent is hope. In a world that can often seem broken, God offers us hope—and peace, love and joy—in abundance. Over the next three weeks, may we make a conscious effort to find time and space in our daily lives to become more fully aware of God’s presence and be grateful for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us.
Maria Asteinza
Director of Integrated Communications, St. Francis College
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