Daily Connection

Today is Monday, December 16, 2013.

The Third week of Advent.



Good Morning.



A thought for the day:

Star of wonder, star of night.



The Church’s 1st reading for today: Numbers chapter 24 verses 2-7; 15-17



When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,
the spirit of God came upon him,
and he gave voice to his oracle:

The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of a man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:
How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;
your encampments, O Israel!
They are like gardens beside a stream,
like the cedars planted by the LORD.
His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,
he shall have the sea within reach;
His king shall rise higher,
and his royalty shall be exalted.

Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:

The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,
the utterance of the man whose eye is true,
The utterance of one who hears what God says,
and knows what the Most High knows,
Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,
enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not near:
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel.



* * *



In 1977 teenagers all over America walked into movie theatres to watch a movie that was virtually unknown. The director was unknown, the characters were unknown, the soundtrack was unknown, the robots were unknown. The name of the movie was Star Wars. It was not expected to be the biggest grossing movie of all times (back then).

It's hard to believe that was 37 years ago. But even then some of us could read the handwriting on the wall. It was more grand than anything else we had ever seen. For the next two months in that year of '77, the word spread and we couldn't get enough.



Our Scripture this morning speaks of another star which will advance in the sky and point all of mankind in the direction of the Messiah. This is the Season of the year in which we celebrate the coming of the Messiah made known to us by that shining star. Each and every Christmas we celebrate the purpose of that star: to let us know that the Christ is born for us.



In our preparation for the visit of Santa may we leave some space in our lives to worship the One given to us by God Himself. Made known to us by a star.





God bless,

Father Pat