“Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born, while Iw as in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me.” Isaiah 49:1-2
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
Jesus’ whole message is to say that you are God’s beloved child…When you can hear in your heart, not in your head, that you are truly God’s beloved daughter, that you are truly God’s beloved son, everything turns around. The mystery of this spiritual truth is that you were loved before you were born, and you will be loved after you die…Your dwelling in God’s heart is a dwelling from eternity to eternity. Henri J.M. Nouwen, “Discovering Our Gift Through Service to Others,”
Speech Given to Members of FADICA, 1994
Action: Spend some time in silence meditating on the truth that you are God’s beloved.
Prayer: Lord, you who knew us before we were ever born, you who consecrated us into your care, hold us in the shadow of your hand and watch over us this Advent. Make its observance a shining path to our home and banquet with you in heaven. Amen.