Will You Allow God to Dwell in You?

The readings today ask us that question. Will I allow God to dwell in me? Will I even recognize that God needs a dwelling place?

We usually call on God when we're down, depressed, problematic. However, when things are doing well, when our prayers have been answered, when we're happy, we usually put God aside. Sad, but true. That is why in the first reading, it is nice to note that King David, while resting in his palace after being delivered by God from his enemies, remembred God. Nakaka inspire and at the same time, nakakahiya. Inspiring dahil sya, hari na, pero naalala si God kahit wala sya problema. Nakakahiya kasi tayo, hindi laging ganun. He remembered God and acted upon his realizations. He wanted to give God a physical dwelling place, and God rewarded him for that. However, God does not want this from us. He wants to dwell in our hearts, in our lives. Would we say yes?

Mary, in the gospel, said yes. She allowed herself to be used by God. She gave space for God to dwell in her life. God rewarded her. He used her mightily. That is what will happen if we give our yes to God, if we allow him to dwell in us. Allowing him is accepting him in our lives. This will consume us. This will bless us. If we allow Him to dwell in us, things will not always be easy, but it will be more bearable because of Him.

As we near Christmas, do we recognize that God wants to dwell in our lives? What do we say to him? Do we give our yes and allow him to? What prevents us from allowing Him to?