The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122418.cfm)
reminds me that I
should continue my preparation for Christ's coming.
They
say that time flies when you're having fun. That is usually true. But time also
flies when you are very busy. Time flies when there are a lot of things to do.
Time flies when there are a lot of parties and activities. This is what
happened to some. Just like that, it's already Christmas day tomorrow. Weeks of
preparation seemed to just fly by.
However,
this should not dishearten us. Regardless if we feel we have done our best or
not, we should not stop preparing for him. We should not stop
today or tomorrow, but be motivated to continue and prepare for his eventual
coming. Being a Christian is not a once in a lifetime
decision. It is an everyday, continuous decision. We have
to constantly choose to follow God. We have to constantly allow
God to change us, and to use us.
The
readings show us people who continuously allow God to use them. In the first
reading, we see David, a former shepherd who was used by God in many ways, and
eventually was made a king of his people. In the gospel we see Zechariah’s
canticle, his profession of faith and love. After doubting God and being
silenced, he eventually gave praises to God with his words, with his life. They
both live the psalm – to forever sing the goodness of the Lord.
We
should also continue to let God use us and change us. We should continue to
allow him to use us to help other people. There are everyday things we should
do to improve ourselves - obey the rules and be honest even if other people are
not, be generous and selfless even if other people are not, confess and be at
peace with God, ourselves and others, even if other people do not. As we do
so, God will continue to live through us, and we will be a representation
of Jesus to others around us, and He will continue to be present in us
and through us.
How
have I prepared for Christmas this year? Did I lose sight of the reason for
this season? Did I allow myself to get busy and stressed that I did not devote
enough time for prayer and sacraments as I prepare for Him? How can I continue
to prepare for Jesus’ coming in my life? How can I continue to allow Him to
change me? Am I willing?
May
we make the decision to continue to prepare not just for Christmas, but for
Christ’s eventual coming.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another week. Thank you for this reminder. Thank you for all the
blessings. Thank you for all the love. Thank you for all the guidance and
protection. Lord, sorry for being so busy and distracted. Sorry for losing
sight of you. Lord, I pray that you give me a heart that would continue to let
you use me and mold me to be more like you. Give me a heart that would continue
to humble myself before you and allow you to use me in whatever way you want
to. Lord, use me. Live in me. Be alive in me and through me. Help me also to
never stop preparing, even after Christmas. I pray that in my own little way,
you would be able to use me and make me Jesus to others. Amen
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
December 24, 2018
Monday in Fourth Week of Advent - Mass in the Morning
Lectionary: 200
Lectionary: 200
Reading
1 2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
When
King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
"Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king,
"Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?
"'It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
"Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
Nathan answered the king,
"Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?
"'It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
Responsorial
Psalm PS
89:2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29
R.
(2) For ever I will sing the
goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
1:67-79
Zechariah
his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace."
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace."
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