Luke 10:21-24

At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are one God in three persons. I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I rejoice in you, Holy Spirit, author of all joy. I gaze upon you, God the Son, whom I will contemplate for all eternity in heaven. Help me to accept your gracious will toward me with childlike simplicity.

Encountering Christ:

1. The Holy Trinity: In today’s Gospel, we can almost see the smile on Jesus’s face as we overhear, so to speak, his tender dialogue with our heavenly Father. What a thrill it is to know that Jesus speaks about us through the Spirit to the Father! “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life” (CCC 234). We can rejoice in the beautiful and profound way the Church reveals to us in this Gospel the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. How blessed are we! 

2. The Lordship of the Son: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father,” said Jesus. Therefore Jesus is in control of the world, and of history. Of mankind he is also ever mindful. He holds each of us in the palm of his hand and never forgets or abandons us. He worked together with his Father in the creation of heaven and earth, and then at Christmas he became obedient to the Father, cooperating in his plan for redemption by taking on human flesh. The Lordship of the Son is a humble lordship, a hidden lordship, because he became small, a mere child, like one of us. We are called to imitate his profound example of humility in our own small ways. 

3. Greater Than Prophets and Kings: Our eyes are blessed if they see what the disciples saw, namely the Savior Jesus Christ. Our vocation as Christians is a great one; in a way, we have become greater than all the ancient prophets and kings, because we are able to enjoy the privilege of reliving the birth of the Babe Emmanuel in the manger at Bethlehem. Advent is the time of preparation for that solemn moment of Spirit-filled joy. On Christmas morning, let us reverently proclaim with Simeon, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples” (Luke 2:30-31).

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, thank you for revealing the Father to me. He is God of heaven and earth, and he has established his plan to save me through your incarnation. Come Lord Jesus, do not delay! Come to me as a little child and reveal to me the love of the Father and the Spirit. Teach me to embrace my vocation to greatness while remaining like a little child who rejoices to imagine your face and hear your word.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will speak with each of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, asking for a heart humbly prepared for Christmas.

For Further Reflection: The Mystery Of Eternal Love: A Retreat Guide On The Blessed Trinity.