Read: First Reading: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Resp. Psalm: Ps 89 2nd Reading:Rom 16:25-27 Gospel: Lk 1:26-28
Where does the Lord reside in our lives? Is He far away from us? Is He near us? Where is the Lord?
King David had expanded his kingdom beyond measure, his enemies were now his footstools, he resided in his palace in peace while the Lord lived in a tent. He planned to build a magnificent edifice for the Lord.
The Lord was however not interested.
Why do we think of doing great physical and external things for the Lord while we fail to do the greatest of the spiritual and internal things for Him?
David’s intention was noble but the Lord I think wanted something else. What was the Lord looking for? He wanted a pure heart and clean hands.
The Lord wanted the pure temple of David’s body. David as we know was a warrior, a man of valour and of the Sword. He had spilled blood and done other terrible things for the good of the nation. Though these things were necessary for the nation, it also had its implication. Today, I think we see this implication.
Though David was a man after the heart of God, God could not accept a Holy Temple from his blood-stained hands. God however blessed him for his good intention. He would however accept the Temple from the pure and innocent hands of Solomon who knew no war.
Beloved, before we make an offering to Lord, let us check our inner dispositions. Let us see whether we stand right before God. Let us cleanse and present our bodies first. When we do this, the Lord would bless us just as He did for Abel.
Let us not allow our sins to stand in the path of our generosity and good intentions.
Beloved, David’s good intention of building a house for God, won him an eternal reward of royalty for him and his descendants. God made the house of David a House of Kings. God will establish the Davidic dynasty because of David’s good intention. And it is from this Davidic line that the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, will sprout from.
May our good intentions also win for us God’s blessing for our families.
In our gospel reading, we are presented with the story of the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
From the promise that God made to David, it’s fulfilment is what we see as Joseph the betrothed husband of Mary was a descent of that royal family.
Permit me to take my reflection from a totally different angle.
Many learned people, especially atheists (those who do not believe in the existence of God) have argued against Mary’s virginal birth of Jesus.
For them, there is no way a woman can conceive without the semen of a man. The “story” (YES, to them it is a story) of Jesus’ birth is an adaptation of the Greek mythology where the gods will descend from Mount Olympus and lay with the women of their choice. This brought about the birth of the Demi-gods (Half man, half god) such as Hercules, Perseus and the like.
How wrong they are!
For those of us who believe in a God who can create the universe out of nothing; make a moulded clay come to life by breathing into its nostrils, it’s no problem at all.
For us who believe, it is the surest proof of God’s love for us, as he descends from his heavenly glory to pitch his tent among us, so that he will not be a God who lives farther from us, but a God who is nearer than we think. That’s EMMANUEL (God with us).
This nearness of God has a great mission: to save us from the grips of sin and death.
Today, God makes the unthinkable thinkable, the impossible possible. He makes a virgin who has no carnal knowledge of a man conceive no mere a child, but the SON OF GOD.
Let the unbelievers laugh and scoff at us with their scientific reasons. As for us, we put our faith in the God who brought Science and it’s syllabus into existence.
God can explain Science but Science might not be able to explain God and his actions.
I believe that with God all things are possible. What about you?
“Lord Jesus, may the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mary and made her conceive you in her womb also overshadow us and make us conceive you in our hearts.”
By Rev. Fr Donatus Pallu
