Our willingness to cooperate with God will surely bring about things that are beyond our abilities and imaginations.

by May Tam
2014-12-21


Fourth Sunday of Advent


2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16


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.”

Romans 16:25-27


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.

Luke 1:26-38


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.

Our willingness to cooperate with God will surely bring about things that are beyond our abilities and imaginations.
May Tam
Stained Glass

Stained Glass

With this last Sunday of Advent, Christmas is knocking at the door. Many of us may well be ready for the celebration that is to come. But two thousand years ago, an unknown Jewish girl who brought forth the first Christmas, had her life-changing adventure began in today’s Annunciation story of Luke’s gospel. Let us revisit this extraordinary event.

It was extraordinary because the spiritual realm “touched base” with the material world---the invisible manifested itself to be visible. It was extraordinary because the Almighty God who, being the cause and source of everything and is in need of nothing, includes humanity’s (represented by Mary) cooperation and participation in His salvific plan. By the use of a diptych, we may see what it means.

First of all is the humility of God. As the Creator of all, He humbled Himself to become man, the creature. More so, He was born as a tiny helpless infant to a poor teenage girl. Mary, though felt herself unworthy (as the Lord’s lowly handmaid), yet in humility surrendered her will to the will of God. Secondly is the courage of God. The Son of God, upon His condescension, needed courage to put Himself totally into human hands---to go through life on earth as a true human being with all its pains, sorrows and sufferings. Not entirely understanding God’s salvific plan but definitely was aware of the consequence of an unmarried pregnancy, Mary needed courage to say “yes”. She was courageous to take up the responsibility to be the mother of “the Son of the Most High” (Luke1:32), and her mission as the Mother of the whole human race. Thirdly is the obedience of God the Son. The God-Man was obedient to His heavenly Father to give up His authority in heaven and on earth so as to obey His earthly parents and subjected to all human laws. Mary was obedient to the words of the angel (who obeyed the word of God) and submitted to what was said, “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Lastly is the faith/trust. God was faithful of His promise to David (First Reading) and put His promise in trust of a young maid. Mary showed a readiness to do what God asked of her because of her faith and trust in Him even though she did not fully comprehend what and how it was to happen.

Before we open the door to welcome Christmas, let us reflect upon God’s way of salvation and thank Mary for her cooperation on our behalf, without which, God’s plan will not be so readily accomplished. Though “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37), God’s plan includes our fiat. Our willingness to cooperate with God will surely bring about things that are beyond our abilities and imaginations.


Spiritual Talk
Fr. Anthony Ho
On the 4th Sunday of Advent, Fr. Anthony Ho explains to us the the story of the Annunciation in the Gospel of Luke. Like Mary, every one of us have a calling from God, a mission given to us by Him. We must understand his will in order to find our purpose and direction in life. We need to always ask God with a humble heart: "Lord, what would you have me do?"
Listen >

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