The WORD today reminds me that I should continue to prepare for Christmas.
For weeks, we have been preparing for Christmas, and how fast time flies, we are now on the last Sunday before Christmas, we are now on the fourth Sunday of advent. God has been telling us how we can prepare and that we should serve and proclaim him in this world. now the question is, how are we responding to his messages?
The gospel story is a familiar one. We also see the effect of what having a relationship with God would bring. We see the effect of preparing our hearts. Mama Mary was told what was about to happen. What God wanted to happen. Of course she had a lot of questions, but she remained firm in faith. She still said yes and submitted to God's will. And after, she visited her pregnant cousin and served her. We see how her mere presence brings God to others. This is what we should aim as well - to bring God to others with our presence.
We should continue to prepare for God, so we can have faith and relationship to God as Mama Mary. We should prepare and work on our relationship with God not just for Christmas, but always. We should always declare God through our life. By our words. By our actions.
Do I respond positively to God’s message? Do I put things in the proper perspective? Am I making him the center of the celebration, the reason for the season? OR am I still busy buying and sending gifts, being annoyed by the traffic and that Christmas this year is different, that I forget the reason why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place? How can I prepare more for Christmas, especially during this pandemic?
May we be wiling to let God enter our lives, and prepare for Him as we commemorate his birth, and for always after it.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. thank you for knowing me, for reaching out to me, for giving me a long time to prepare, for you know it will take time. Lord, sorry for not doing my best to prepare. Sorry for being busy and distracted. Sorry for not making this about you. help me make the most out of the preparation time you are giving me, and help me make this season a really meaningful one. May I continue to prepare and may I continue to let you into my life and work on my relationship with you. Amen.
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
-g-
December 20, 2020
4th Sunday of Advent; St. Dominic of Silos
FIRST READING
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.’”
“‘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
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises 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. Forever 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. Forever 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. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises 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. Forever 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. Forever 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. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
SECOND READING
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Amen. God bless you and your preparations. 🙏
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