COLLECT: “COME QUICKLY, WE PRAY, LORD JESUS, AND DO NOT DELAY, THAT THOSE WHO TRUST IN YOUR COMPASSION MAY FIND SOLACE AND RELIEF IN YOUR COMING. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
2Sam 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Ps 88:2-5,27,29 and Lk 1:67-79.
Our first reading for today, together with the Gospel, which is the ‘Canticle’ or ‘Song of Zechariah’ from Luke (Lk 1:67-79) contains a theme of thanksgiving or appreciation. I think Mother Church has purposefully chosen these readings for the last days of Advent, perhaps to thank God for all He has been doing for us. David, in the passage from 2 Samuel, expresses heartfelt gratitude to God for helping him and his people fight their enemies, and now they have settled and are living in peace.
As a way or a form of concrete expression of heartfelt gratitude to God, David makes a request to build a House, or a Temple to house the Ark of God, which represents God’s presence with his people. In the Lukan passage, old Zechariah expresses his deepest gratitude to God for granting him his heart’s desire, his dire desire, a child, John the Baptist.
Indeed, when we appreciate the good things and favours God and fellow human beings do to/for us, we stand a greater chance of receiving more favours and good things from them. When David made a request to build a Temple for the Lord as a gesture of appreciation for all that the Lord did for him and his people, God promised to give King David more, to make David’s dynasty an everlasting Kingdom: “I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel: …..And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you….I will make his Kingdom firm…. Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever” (2Sam 7:14ff).
We have a lot to learn from the passages we are meditating on today. We have every reason to thank God our Creator every day for all that he has been doing for us. He gives us life every day. Some people would have loved to be alive today, unfortunately they have not gotten the opportunity to live today. A lot of us enjoy good health today. Others have not gotten that. Some people are sick, but all the same, God has given them the chance to live as well as the patience and the grace to endure the pain they are going through on account of their sickness.
Some of us enjoy relative peace and harmony in our homes, in our families, in our communities, and in our countries/nations. Some people cannot get this. We sometimes experience love, mercy, kindness, etc. from people. Other people do not get that from those who need it. Each person knows the favours that he/she has been receiving from God and/or their neighbour, and therefore we should be appreciative for that.
Let us imitate the example of King David and Zechariah by always being thankful and grateful to God and those who support and help us, or who do things for us. We especially thank God for all that he has done for us throughout this year. We also thank him for the season of Advent he has given to us and for all the blessings we have been receiving through his word and the sacraments. While thanking God, we pray that he may spare us for all our sins and wrongdoings and allow us to end this year so as to begin the New Year with his abundant blessings.
As I thank all those who help and support me in one way or the other in my priestly ministry, in my work, especially on this PLATFORM, and in my life, I urge you today to say ‘Thank you’ to someone, even if it is a little act of kindness or favour, or even if you think that it is the person’s duty or responsibility that he/she is merely discharging. Please, say Thank You to your marriage partner, to your relative, to your co-worker, to your priest, to your lay faithful, to your politician, to your electorate, to your boss, to your subordinate/servant, to your friend, etc. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
PRAYER: “GRANT TO US WHO FIND NEW VIGOR, O LORD, IN THESE YOUR WONDROUS GIFTS, THAT, AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE IN ADORATION THE FESTIVITIES OF YOUR SON’S NATIVITY, SO WE MAY POSSESS IN GLADNESS HIS EVERLASTING REWARDS. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!