Fourth Sunday of Advent

When Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

The only sacrifice and offering God desires from us is for us to echo the words of Mary and say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy Will.” All the almsgiving, mortifications, and prayers mean nothing if we do not do them in accordance and in respect of God’s Will. If someone needs help, but we say to them come back later I’m praying, then are we doing God’s Will? If we mortify ourselves in some way during Fridays or Lent out of obligation and not love of God, then how can we expect to grow in faith? If we give alms to the poor or needy, but do so only out of our surplus or to absolve ourselves from doing more, then are we truly being charitable? We can do all the right things, for all the wrong reasons. However, if we make our entire lives into sacrifices and are willing to give everything to God, then His Spirit will work through us and we will become not only a worthy offering, but a fruitful vine full of good works.

Are we willing to do God’s Will no matter what it might cost us in the world? How can we transform ourselves into living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to ensure we are doing the right things for the right reasons?

O Lord, we come to do your will.

Amen.