Isaiah 43 Reflection

Advent Devotional for Friday, December 5, 2008

Week 1: PREPARE

Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.
Isaiah 43

As I begin to reflect on the above scripture passage I am reminded of the passage from the Second Book of Paul when he is struck blind by God and Paul asked God what he should do. God responds by saying “"Then the Lord said to him (Paul), Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

It really does not matter what you have done in the past, it matters what God wants you to do now. You can not change the past, but you can listen for God’s word and see what it is doing. For me, and I am sure many of you as well, it is to be here at Saint Martin de Porres High School and to listen for God’s word. What we must do is not always clear to us. We must take the time to reflect and to listen and to see the overwhelming presence of Jesus Christ in our family that we call Saint Martin’s. When we do this, it becomes easier for me to see what I must do.

God is preparing something big for us. We just need to get out of the way and make room for the Holy Spirit. Do you not see that God is doing something new? He is transforming each and everyone associated with our community into what he wants the world to be. Anyone who comes to our building that takes a moment to let God in sees it.

Always remember to take the time to realize that we learn far more from our students that we can ever teach them. I am amazed and overcome with emotion every day by the commitment our students make to the community of our school.

So as we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ during this Advent season, take the time to see the great things God is doing right now. You answered his call to go into the city and you are being told what you must do. Take the time to see God creating a way in the desert and turning wasteland into rivers. Take the time to reflect on the overpowering presence of Jesus Christ each and every day at Saint Martin’s. When we take the time to do this, it makes the Advent season that much more meaningful to me.

In closing, PREPARE for the birth of Jesus with a new perspective on what we must do and to see the new things God is doing. I thank you for the opportunity to share this with you.

GOD BLESS,

By Tom Bennett, Vice President of Corporate Work Study Program