2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 / Luke 1:67-79
Nathan prophesies about David: “Your kingdom will last forever. ”
Today’s reading brings us full circle. Why? Because, in a
true sense, the seed of Christmas is found in Nathan’s prophecy to David: “Tell
my servant David that I say to him, . . . ‘I will make your kingdom last
forever. Your dynasty will never end.’ ” The birth of Jesus is the ultimate
fulfillment of that prophecy. Jesus, the King of Kings, is David’s descendant,
who will rule forever. It is fitting, therefore, that we should return to this
prophecy in our final reading before Christmas.
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Do we keep in mind that Christmas is not only the
celebration of Jesus’ birth into our world, but also the celebration of his
birth into our hearts? “Christ came when all things were growing old. He made
them new.” St. Augustine
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With the festivities happening around us and with the year
coming to an end, we may want to just have a good time and forget about our
worries and anxieties for a while.
With one day just before Christmas, we may yearn for
some quiet time for prayer and for reflection on the meaning of Christmas and
how we have prepared for it this time around.
Yet it may not be that conducive to make time to do this
recalling and reflecting, because of the frenzy of activities and
busyness.
Even in Church, people are busy making preparations for the
Masses this evening and tomorrow, and also for the Christmas parties along the
way.
So as much as we may hope that it is going to be
"Silent Night, Holy Night", it may not be really so. In fact, it may
well be a noisy and busy night.
Yet we must make time for ourselves to be with the Lord if
we really want to experience the silence and the holiness of this eve of
Christmas.
We have to make time for ourselves to welcome God as He
visits His people and to feel His wonderful gift of love in Jesus.
Just one day before Christmas we are reminded in the gospel
what is the meaning of this whole occasion. God has fulfilled His promise
of salvation. He is sending us our long awaited Saviour. Jesus our Saviour
will lead us from darkness of sin and from the shadow of death and guide us
into the way of peace. Let us make time today for prayer and reflection.
Let us feel the holy silence of this eve of Christmas. May we be filled
with a joyful peace as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.
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The promise made by the Lord was finally fulfilled with the
birth of Jesus… God would set his people free by no less than his own Son. Was
the promise finally fulfilled? It was the beginning of the fulfilment.
Everything was there to make it real and effective, except the people who would
have to put it into practice. For God created us free, and that means he relies
on us, on our acceptance and cooperation, on our love. We have to let God make
his peace and love come true among us. With and through Jesus. That’s why he
came among us as one of us. Here I am, human like you. Look at me and see how
it is to be done. Do it with me. I am with you and stay with you to give you
the strength. Come, let’s begin. Now.
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Let us pray: Lord, loving and mighty God, you fulfilled your
promise to save us when Jesus, your Son, became one of us. We are no
longer in the dark, for you let your light shine on us. Bring us
your salvation now, set us really free from our sins, let us become fully human
with Jesus and go with him in your way of peace and love. Let him be
our strength, our constant companion on the road, that through him and growing
in his humanity, we may be your beloved sons and daughters. We ask
this through Christ our Lord.
