The Gospel of Yes Daily Reflection for Dec. 11, 2023
DECEMBER 11, 2023
MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
A YES WITH JESUS TO THE FATHER
OPENING PRAYER:
COME, HOLY SPIRIT. I welcome you into my heart as Mary did. Come with power. Help me to offer my own yes to God the Father, saying with trust: “May it be done unto me according to your word.”
TODAY’S THOUGHT:
Our yes is a yes with Jesus to the Father. We are united with Jesus in his total offering to the Father. Everything can be united with him – our life, our praise, our sufferings, our prayer, and our work – and so acquire a completely new value:
"The Church which is the Body of Christ participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole and entire. She unites herself to his intercession with the Father for all men. In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his Body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ and with his total offering, and so acquire a new value. Christ’s sacrifice present on the altar makes it possible for all generations of Christians to be united with his offering." (1)
Mary did this. She offered her life with Jesus to the Father. Her yes was a sharing in the great yes that Jesus offered the Father.
When we do this, all that we offer acquires a new value. Daily work takes on new meaning when it becomes part of our yes to the Father. Suffering and hardships have new meaning and purpose when we offer them as part of our yes. Tedious and monotonous things aren't simply empty and useless when they are part of our yes.
There is such great hope in this truth! Be encouraged this Advent as we continue to pray for the grace to offer a generous yes to the Lord.
TODAY’S PRAYER:
St. Paul knew that in our union with Jesus, everything could be offered to the Father through him:
Romans 12:1-2
I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Remember that everything we offer – our praise, sufferings, prayer, and work – acquires new value when it is part of our yes to God. What areas of your life need that new value and meaning? What areas of your life haven't been offered over to the Lord yet? Bring those areas to him today that they may take on an entirely new value and meaning as part of your yes to God.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION:
Georges de la Tour, Joseph the Carpenter , 1642.
This painting by Georges de la Tour depicts Jesus assisting Joseph in the workshop. It's a simple thing: Jesus holding a candle as Joseph drills into a wooden beam with an auger, whose shape reflects the Cross that is to come. The spiritual message of today's theme reverses this: we share in the great work of Jesus – his offering to the Father - by giving even the simplest or most menial of daily tasks over to our yes. Nothing is off limits, nothing is too simple. All can be offered with Jesus to the Father.
"Painted by Georges de la Tour in 1642, Joseph the Carpenter depicts a sweet moment between Foster-father and Christ.
This artwork now hangs in Louvre, and it is easy to see why. Their bond is immediately evident, with the young Christ assisting Joseph by holding the candle to light his workspace. No different than today, when you assign your child the important task of holding the flashlight, it is not just a bonding moment, but a chance to teach valuable life skills.
It is important to remember that God chose to place His son in a working-class household. Christ would learn firsthand, like any child, about the value of hard work, helping others and taking responsibility.
The artist has made this moment even more unique by using one lone candle. While any other scene cast in darkness might imply sadness or drama, the candle held by Christ reveals instead the warmth and love between Christ and Joseph. The style of painting the sharp differences between light and shadow is known as tenebrism, and the artist Georges de la Tour is celebrated for his mastery of this technique. Most of the artworks created throughout his career feature dramatic scenes lit by a lone candle, and just as many of them are scenes from the gospel. It is a small but important detail that the artist uses to connect the audience with Christ. After all, working by candlelight was a common pastime up until the late 19th century.
The candle reveals only what is necessary for the scene, and that is an eager, young Christ observing Joseph hard at work. The artist prefers to keep the setting in the natural world, as the only hint at Christ’s divinity is the candle shining brightest on His face. The wood Joseph is carving resembles the arm of a cross, and the hole he bores is not unlike where a nail would go. Even in the precious moment between the child and foster-father, the fate of Christ on the Cross is ever present.
While Christ’s true Father is God, this work of art by Georges de la Tour makes it clear that Joseph still played an important role in Christ’s life. While sacred art tends to center on Mary and her life with Christ, Joseph should not be forgotten, for he too helped raise the Son of God." (2)
For your continued prayer, return to the passage above from Romans. Our yes to the Lord is not just words, but the very offering of our life in the flesh. Then use one of the Prayers of Surrender to make your yes to God.
Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), #1368.
Caleigh McCutcheon, “Exploring Sacred Art: Celebrating Fatherhood with St. Joseph,” Celebrating Catholic Moms & Families, accessed November 29, 2023, https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/exploring-sacred-art-celebrating-fatherhood-with-st.-joseph.