"Look, your God is coming ... he is coming to save you." (Is. 35:4)

This is the assurance of our salvation through Jesus Christ as we prepare ourselves to receive Jesus into our hearts again at Christmas. Prophet Isaiah in the first reading describes there is Hope for Restoration when the Lord comes. Coupled with this act of salvation is the manifestation of Jesus' power to heal and forgive sins.

In the healing of the paralysed man in the Gospel reading, we see how Jesus responded to the faith of the people who brought the paralytic to Him. The companions of the paralytic overcoming all obstacles to bring the sick to Jesus reveals the strength of their conviction and trust in Jesus' healing power. How do we live this spirit of oneness with people we work and live with?

By the cure and forgiveness of sins Jesus fulfilled his mission (Lk.4:18) particularly among the poor and oppressed. What is our response to this dimension of our mission today?

We also experience Jesus' forgiveness today in the Church through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Do we take this aspect of our Christian life seriously? Let this Advent season remind us of this responsibility as an essential element in our preparations.