Tuesday 19 December
First reading - Judges 13:2-7,24-25 “‘A man of God has just come to me; his presence was like the presence of the angel of God, he was so majestic. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not reveal his name to me. But he said to me, “You will conceive and bear a son”. This is the way God works. He finds possibilities where we cannot. He can find ways which we cannot. The point that we don’t understand is not the reason to reject something. Here the barren wife of Manoah became a mother because of the intervention of God. She became an instrument of God to be mother of Samson through whom God saved many. In the New Testament, Mary became the Mother of God to give birth to Jesus to save the whole world. When we cooperate to grace and when we have the desire to be part of the plan of God, we can become His instruments. Let’s reflect: How much I want to cooperate to the Grace of God to be His instrument of salvation?
Monday 18 December
First reading - Jeremiah 23:5-8 Through the word of Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord is announcing the effect of incarnation. What is going to happen with the coming of the Lord! He will reign as true king and wisdom. The wisdom of God is going to be shared with us. And He will be practising honesty and integrity in the land. The Lord will bring justice on earth. The Lord will save us from all that try to keep us as slaves. The grace which is going to be attained through the incarnation is going to be liberate us from our sins. Moreover, we can live in confidence. Not about the fear of our errors and sins. We are sure that the Lord will forgive us. All the more, the Lord will be called “The Lord-our-integrity”, because we share His dignity. We become sons and daughters of God because He is our integrity. Lastly, all of us will be able to live in our land because this grace is not taking away our freedom but giving us the freedom to live our life with our responsibility as sons and daughters. Let’s reflect. Do I recognize that the incarnation of God made me a son or daughter of God?
Sunday 17 December
3rd Sunday of Advent Second reading - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 “Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus”. This is why God became man. So that we can be always happy. With this happiness we can communicate with the Lord. The main content of this communication with the Lord is to give thanks for His presence in our life. His presence is a liberating presence. His presence gives us freedom. His presence brings the good news to the poor and binds up the hearts that are broken. This redeeming presence clothes us in the garments of salvation and adorns me with the jewels of grace. This wonderful presence of the Lord is to be acknowledged and thanked in our prayers. The Word of the God say, “this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus”. Let’s reflect: Do I acknowledge and thank the presence of Jesus in my life by being happy at all times?
Saturday 16 December
Saturday of the 2nd week of Advent First reading - Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4,9-12 “Happy shall they be who see you, and those who have fallen asleep in love”. This is very beautiful. Happy are those who meet the Lord in their life. It changes everything in our life. The meaning of life, the sense of life, everything changes once you meet the Lord in your life. Because you will find out the reason for your birth and for your being. This will give you the energy to be what are born for and to be what you are to be. And at the same time, those who have fallen asleep in love are also happy. Falling asleep in love! A beautiful understanding that the love is most beautiful thing in life. When you can love in the purest way, you can fall asleep in love because you have nothing to fear. You can love without fear. This is also because you have met the Lord in your life. Let’s reflect: Do I understand my life as I have met the Lord in my life?