In all religions, whatever be the name and description of a given set of beliefs,
there are principles and prescriptions,
rites, and rituals, and regulations,
commandments and observances.
Whichever way they are formulated, there are admonitions saying:
“Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not.”
The language used indicates clearly the ‘should’, the ‘must’, the ‘have to’
that guide the believers of a certain group.
And the behaviour of the faithful is meant to translate these into concrete actions.
This is the whole area of what WE are expected to do for God.
It is sometimes described at length and with much insistence.
Yet, this is only one side of the coin, only one aspect of religion.
There is the whole area of what GOD does for us.
This aspect is presented to us in a beautiful and inspiring way
in some of the texts of this 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B.
God’s messenger acting in his name,
“brings good news to the poor,
binds up hearts that are broken,
proclaims liberty to captives,
proclaims a year of favour from the Lord.” (1st reading: Is.61:1-2,10-11)
“His mercy reaches from age to age,
the hungry he has filled with good things,
he comes to the help of his servant,
he remembers to show mercy.” (Response: Lk.1:46-50,53-54)
Why do we concentrate so much on what we should do for God?
This season of Advent is a good time to change our focus and, at long last,
to consider and marvel at all that God does for us, day after day!
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