Hint Of Suffering To Come

After the glorious experience of the Transfigured Jesus, Jesus casually mentioned that suffering awaited him in the months ahead: "So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." (Mt 17: 12). The disciples seemed to have missed the hint, focusing on John the Baptist. In the midst of Advent when we are reflecting on the coming of our God among us, we are not ready to hear about his leaving, particularly, as it turned out, so painfully.  Yet, from the beginning this was the plan, and we see it in the swaddling clothes in which the infant was wrapped.  These were the cloths wrapped around a newborn lambs, to dry them off and keep them warm  Later, John the Baptist would announce Jesus as the Lamb of God, "Behold, the Lamb of God," (Jn 1:29) the sacrificial lamb that was offered for the remission of our sins.
The Advent Season has its pressures:  our desire for time to reflect on the meaning of God With Us, the search for quiet, peaceful moments of prayer and pondering of the beautiful texts from Isaiah that flood us daily, all opposed by shopping, baking, decorating, gift shopping and wrapping, attending concerts and parties. Not "suffering" per se but undo tension, or so it would seem, that we could do without.  It might be, however, a cause for "letting go," relaxing in God a truly Advent stance, and putting into practice these words of Jesus: What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving....Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative , God-provisions.  Don't worry about missing out.You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. (Mt 6:31 The
Message)
Bro Rene