Daily Bible Readings

November 27, 2011
THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

A beautiful song, “The Potter’s Hand,” describes God as the potter who molds us into His own awesome work of art. It is the first Sunday of Advent. As we begin a new liturgical year, we renew ourselves with the truth that we are God’s children, the work of His hands. Today’s first reading reminds us again that we are the clay and God is the potter.
Pottery is a wonderful craft —extremely time consuming, constantly dirty, always awkward, yet very rewarding. Imagine what the potter beholds after he completes his hard work. The potter’s hands are constantly dirty. God, similar to the potter, comes to us in our mess. We remember at this time Christ who was born for us into the messiness of humanity’s sin.
Pottery is time consuming. Many times the potter has to remold and reshape the work until it becomes perfect. In the heat of the kiln, time flies as the clay dries up and is fashioned according to the mind of the creator.
Clay is very awkward. It takes a lot of patience to shape and mold the wet clay that too often slips in the potter’s hands. If the potter’s hands are not strong and steady, the clay goes whichever way it wills. Thus, the image of the clay and potter is an apt image as we begin this Advent season.
Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare our hearts like clay before the Potter, Creator God. Our hearts have wandered away from the Lord, hardened and obstinate, unwilling to submit to God’s love and care. The prophet tells us we have become like polluted rags, withered leaves. It is time to call upon the Redeemer, the all-powerful Potter to reshape and fashion us according to His likeness and image.
Let us rejoice again in our Creator God, the Potter, whose hands are steady and strong, ready to uphold us again in His mighty power and merciful love. We are messy sinners, wet clay, needing the Redeemer to bring us back into His loving presence. We need the warmth of His love, like the kiln, to purify us and bring the work of His hands to completion.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

Reflection Question:
You are like wet, supple clay, ready for the Lord to work on this season of Advent.

Melt me, mold me, use me, walk beside me. I give myself to the Potter’s hands.

Blessed Michael Takeshita, pray for us.