The Gospel of Yes Daily Reflection for Dec. 8, 2023
DECEMBER 8, 2023
FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT,
SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
A YES TO SOMETHING SWEETER THAN SIN
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
We cannot spend our spiritual life simply saying no to sin. There must be something sweeter, more beautiful, and more attractive that captivates our hearts than the sins and temptations we battle.
This Advent, we are looking to Mary to teach us how to offer a generous yes to the Lord. That yes will only happen when our hearts have been captivated by him, and he becomes more attractive than the sins that often tempt us.
A spiritual life spent only saying no to sin diverts our attention from Jesus, our Savior. We aren’t fully living the Christian life if the gaze of our heart and the focus of our attention is not on the One with whom we have fallen in love. Advent teaches us not only to say yes to God but to discover Him as the greater, more beautiful, sweeter thing to which we are saying yes.
One of the great dangers of focusing only on our temptations is that they can become even more tempting.
In the Garden of Eden, Eve was lured into focusing on the forbidden fruit by the serpent:
“The snake said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:4-6)
Eve took her eyes off God the Father and dwelt too long on the tree. She saw it was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. In fixing her gaze on the temptation and not on the goodness of God, she was more susceptible to the serpent's lies.
TODAY’S PRAYER:
How do we withstand the lies of the enemy? Only by remaining in the truth:
“Jesus then said to those who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
The enemy, Satan, only speaks lies:
“[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
Psalm 119:97-104
O LORD, how I love your law:
my meditation all the day!
Your command makes me wiser than my foes,
for it is with me always.
I have more insight than all who teach me,
for I ponder your decrees.
I have gained more understanding than my elders,
for I keep your precepts.
I keep my feet from every evil path,
to obey your word.
I have not turned away from your decrees,
which you yourself have taught me.
How sweet is your promise to my tongue,
more than honey in the mouth.
I gain understanding from your precepts,
and so I hate all false ways.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION:
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope. The Temptation of Eve. 1877
Notice how the enemy whispers into Eve’s ear in this painting by Stanhope. It captures in art what Jesus declares: he is the “Father of Lies.” While Jesus is the true Word of God, the enemy only speaks lies; his words do not come forth from the mouth of God. In order to speak a generous yes to God this Advent, we must first hear the truth of God spoken to us. Contrast this image with what we’ve seen in the images of the Annunciation in which Mary is depicted with the Scriptures open before her, attentive to God’s word.
Notice also how Eve is ensnared in the lies of the enemy. The branches of the tree twist about her, as does the enemy. Eve seems to be a prisoner here, not truly free at all. This is what happens when we listen to and welcome the lies of the enemy. It is the opposite of what Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
Pray for the gift of true freedom today, a freedom rooted in the truths God speaks to us, especially in Scripture. Pray that you will find God’s Word and law sweeter even than honey so that the lies and temptations of the Evil One may not lure you away from the Lord himself. Offer one of the prayers of surrender or use your own words to give your yes to the Lord today.