Advent: Catholic ReflectionsEgzanp

In our journey of faith, we go through periods where we feel far from God. God can seem distant and remote from us and we struggle our way through. These times are often referred to as desert or wilderness times, reminding us of the Exodus and the years of wandering the people of Israel endured. In that story though God was never far from them. Indeed his presence in the Ark of the Covenant and the pillars of cloud and fire were constant reminders of God's presence. Our Bible readings today also remind us of this. Isaiah's prophecy of how the Messiah will be born reminds us that Jesus is Emmanuel, 'God-with-us,' and when the angel greets Mary in Luke's Gospel, he greets her with the words, "the Lord is with you." Today we take courage that God is indeed with us in all things, at all times, and will never leave our side.