Advent reflection for 22 December

Mary is filled with joy and sings her praise to the Lord in the words of the Magnificat. She is full of wonder at God who saves those who are poor and humble.

She paints a picture of God’s kingdom. A kingdom of mercy, justice and welcome. A kingdom where the proud of heart will be brought down and the lowly raised up high, where the hungry will be filled with good things.

So often in our world we can see that the rich and powerful just get richer and more powerful, while those of us who are poor struggle to get the basic things we need to live, like food and clean water, no matter how hard we work.

Some of the world’s poorest countries, from Kenya to Sri Lanka, are struggling with huge debt burdens. They are forced to pay enormous sums to international banks and hedge funds, instead of paying for hospitals and schools that are desperately underfunded. The impact on ordinary people is devastating.

Throughout the Jubilee Year, we have been calling for action on this debt crisis, inspired by the words of Pope Francis in his special message for this year: “More than a question of generosity, this is a matter of justice.”

Mary feels joy because she realises that God’s love can turn the world upside down. Let us all strive to play our part in making this vision a reality.

Advent prayer

Almighty God,
you do great things for us.
Grant that we may work together
to build a world
that reflects your kingdom
of mercy and justice.
Amen.

Act

Make your voice heard and call for debt justice in the Jubilee Year.

Call for debt justice