On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me-Zeph 3:11.
God is good, all the time.
Friends: The prophet Zephaniah's words for today are hopeful, promising, and consoling for advent and for daily handling the mosaic of joy, expectations, struggles, pains, uncertainties, and challenges that mark our life now.
In a messianic prophecy, Zephaniah tells of God's promise to come to the world to convert and make all people his own. The prophet was forecasting the coming of Christ, which will result in the good news reaching all people for their transformation. St. Paul reminds us in Rom 10:17-18 that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed, they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
As part of the benefits the world will receive due to Christ's coming, God's love will remove the shame and pain people experience. It was Saint Cyril who said, "No one can doubt that when Christ came in the flesh, there was an amnesty and remission to all who believed. 'For we are justified not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His great mercy.'" Jesus himself mentions in the gospel that tax collectors and prostitutes who received the good news of Christ are cleared of any shame and are on their way to heaven.
It is the same love of God that will remove the pain, sadness, anxiety, and disappointments of the present time for us. The love of Christ will help us to carry our burden, and to accomplish work daily. Let your advent preparation increase your faith in Christ that he will come at Christmas and make the things that are not going well for you now, better. Christ should be our hope, promise, and consolation in all our situations.