Readings for Thursday of the Third Week in Advent: Isaiah 53:1-10; Psalm 30; Luke 7:24-30

"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my mercy shall not depart you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you."  Isaiah 54:10

One of the primary tactics of Satan is to convince us that we are unworthy of God's love and mercy; that our sins are simply to heinous to be forgiven.  But "he has nothing to do with the truth . . . he is a liar and the father of lies."  (John 8:44)  Indeed, today's first reading destroys this lie, reminding us that God's mercy is everlasting and never departs us.  To be sure, we can wound our relationship with God and separate ourselves from Him through sin, but He always remains at the door of our heart, waiting for the slightest invitation to return and shower us with His mercy.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," Jesus said to those who had beaten Him, scourged Him, mocked Him, placed the crown of thorns on His head, and driven the nails into His hands and feet.  Not even His executioners were beyond His mercy.  And so He pleads to the Father on our behalf in the same way, for we all have been His executioners at one time or another.  "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning."  (Psalms 30:5)  Let us wipe away our tears and prepare to experience the joy that comes from THE morning--when the "covenant of peace" began with a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

God love you.