Advent: the challenge of hope

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For 1 December 2008, Monday of 1st week of Advent, based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 8:5-11

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,


Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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About Mrs. Maria Curtis, OP

Maria is a life professed lay Dominican who has retired from being a music educator for 39 years and married for 40 years to husband Bob, also a life professed Dominican. We both life professed in 1998. We have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Jessica is married to Jim. She is a elementary teacher and works wonderfully with her students who mostly come from low incomes and Spanish -speaking homes. Son Rob is married to Carrie RN. Rob is Director of Family Ministry at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Az. . Jenny is a life professed Lay Dominican , graduated with her BA in English and is working part time as library asst. She serves in music ministry for our Dominican chapters. I have served in music ministry, as a lector at ASU Newman Center and help facilitate Dominican Lay formation in our chapter.