Fri., Dec. 18: Jer 23:5-8; Matt 1:18-24

This is the name they give him: ‘The LORD our justice.’ Our anticipation of the Lord’s coming grows. With wonder we recall his birth, yet we long for him to come again, and we pray that he might come to us personally now as we grow in knowledge of his ways. It has been said that we can’t really know Jesus without doing justice. So perhaps justice is the missing piece. We’ve shopped, cooked, decorated and wrapped gifts, but has any of that helped the poor and oppressed? How much have we given to charity, not just of our money, but as a volunteer, offering also our time and our talent? How might we make an ongoing commitment to the poor? O Lord and Ruler of Israel, come!

*For justice, we pray.