The WORD today reminds me me that usually, my reaction determines my participation in God's plans.
They say that you cannot control what happens in life. You cannot control what life throws as you. You cannot control other people and their behavior. However, there is one thing that you can control – your reaction to these things. You cannot control challenges, but you can control how you react to these challenges. You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can control how you behave.
Our reaction determines our participation in God’s plans.
Our reaction determines where we will be and what will happen to us as God’s plans are happening. Nothing can stop God's plans from happening. If we chose to turn away from him and reject him, his great plans will still be accomplished - we just will not be a part of it.
Both in the first reading and gospel, we see angels bearing good news to people. In the first reading, the angel told Manoah’s wife that she will bear a son, while in the gospel the angel told Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will also bear a son in their old age. Both good news. Both redemption. But they reacted differently.
Zechariah was full of doubt. Well, who can blame him? He and Elizabeth were very old, and probably they have stopped hoping and praying for a child. However, we see that Manoah’s reaction was very different. When he learned about the good news, he prayed to God and asked him to tell them how they are to prepare. (Though this is not included in the readings, see the rest of the chapter here http://usccb.org/bible/judges/13:2) Then when the angel was sent to them, they thanked the angel so much and gave their offering to God. Such faith! Surrendered heart full of faith!
No matter how we react, we cannot stop God’s plan from being fulfilled.
God is always inviting us to be part of his plans. He gives us opportunities. He surprises us. But if we choose to doubt and react like Zechariah, we limit our participation and may even cause ourselves unnecessary pains, but if we act like Manoah, things will be better.
God knows what he is doing. He has his plans. Perfect plans. The covid situation in our country does not seem to improve, but God has plans. It is up to us if we will be frustrated and stay away from God, or if we will trust in him and do our part to help improve the situation, in whatever little way we can.
How do I react to things that are happening in my life? Do I do my best to react in a way God wants me to, or do I let the situation get the best of me and affect my reaction? Do I believe in God’s word to me, or am I full of doubt and let me fears or past hurts affect the way I see God’s word? What is God telling me today?
May we have faith in God like Manoah, and be inspired by Elizabeth’s surrendered faith in God’s perfect time as we say “So the Lord has done for me at a time he has seen fit…”
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience you. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminders. Thank you for being you, for choosing the helpless and using them to bring your glory. Lord, sorry for the times I act like Zechariah and doubt you. Sorry for not believing in you and for looking at the situation, for looking at logic and not on you, your great power and your great love. I also ask that you help me have faith like Manoah. May I be ready and willing to receive good news and do my best to prepare my heart and my life for you. May I have that great faith, accompanied by the will to do my part. Cast away all my doubts and fears, and may this day give me a renewed faith, renewed hope, and a renewed life founded on you. In a special way, I lift up all those who are celebrating their birthdays today. May you continue to bless and protect them, and work your way in their hearts and in their lives. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
December 19, 2020
December 19th; Blessed Urban V
FIRST READING
There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.”
The woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.’”
The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him; the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.
The woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.’”
The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him; the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
For you are my hope, O LORD; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD; O God, I will tell of your singular justice. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
For you are my hope, O LORD; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD; O God, I will tell of your singular justice. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
