Dec. 18, 2014 Thursday: 3rd Week of Advent B
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him. (Matthew 1:24)
Many of us know George Bailey as the main character in the
classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. This beloved movie tells the story of
Bailey’s crisis of faith. When a rival steals his bank deposit, Bailey faces
the prospect of imprisonment and comes close to throwing himself off of a
bridge. But an angel named Clarence appears and shows him what life would have
been like for other people if he had never been born. Seeing the positive
impact he has had on so many, Bailey changes his mind.
Joseph also went through a moment of crisis. Hearing about
Mary’s surprise pregnancy, he must have wondered what God was up to. How could
this happen to the most virtuous woman in Israel? He was ready to give up the
whole idea, but he too had a visit from an angel, who convinced him to trust in
God’s plan. Imagine how different things would have been if Joseph had said no!
What would the world look like if you had never been born?
Perhaps it seems like a pointless reflection, but there are people who count on
you in this world. And not because of what you do for them but because of who
you are. It may be your friendly manner, your smile, or your patience that puts
them at ease. You are one way they have—sometimes the only way—of meeting
Christ in the flesh.
Take it a little further. In a sense, your presence has
eternal consequences. You may be the one who steers someone toward God, perhaps
someone who is at the point of giving up or never had any faith to begin with.
Even if you don’t see it yourself, you are part of the invisible glue that
holds things together in your parish or church community. There are a lot of
bricks in a wall, and each one is important. Those people you influence will
influence other people. And so on, and so on.
So as you venture out today, thank the Lord for blessing you
with the gift of yourself!
“Lord, thank you for the gift of life. Today, in my small
corner of the world, give me a chance to show someone how big your love is!”
Word Among Us Daily Meditation
www.wau.org
