Scripture:
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
2 Peter3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8
Reflection:
I love to listen to Doris Day’s "Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be, will be". My mother had a different twist on this song’s motif however. She told me: "You can do or be whatever you want if you make up you mind to do and be it. Nothing is impossible!" To this day, I believe my mother and I think of her advice when I hear Isaiah’s promises in today’s first reading:
"…the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;"
Wow! Are these just the dreams of a wild man, or can we make them real today? I think we can if we listen to my mother’s advice, forget the words of "Que Sera Sera" and just enjoy its enchanting melody.
I see Isaiah’s promises coming true when I get out of the way and realize that it’s not God’s job to make the world and my life according to my wishes, but it’s my job to be thankful for God’s gift of life and to tune in to His plans, to be baptized not only in water and word, but also in deed. Please dear God, give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your plan and the courage to say amen and thanks for my life today.
Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists. He lives in Chicago.