The Lord is gracious

2 Sam. 7:1-5.8-12.14.16, Lk. 1:67-79. Today marks transition from the Advent season to the Christmas season. That is why the Church provides us with five different Liturgical dynamics in the readings and prayers for the proper of the Mass within thirty-six hours. These readings and prayers centres on the Incarnation of God in the birth of Jesus Christ. The first set of the readings are proper for the Advent readings, while the second part starts with the vigil Mass. Today's first reading is an assurance of the promise of God to His people and how He will build a house for David from David’s own descendants, rather than David building a house for God. The household of David will be the source of the Messiah. Tonight, we remember the covenant the Lord made with David and the people of Israel to dwell with them in houses where they would be safe and not disturbed. The covenant God made with His people was not just material homes but a spiritual dwelling place of God. The message of this night is that there is still good reason to trust in the kindness of God. We can help keep that trust alive by sharing God’s love with those who are having difficulty trusting in God because of difficulties in their lives. We can keep the covenant alive by reaffirming our trust and sharing God’s compassion for others.

We know that the covenant is more than just about our homes and our safety from enemies. The Psalmist helps us to understand that the covenant God made with David also confirmed the posterity of the people of Israel for all generations through David. On this night, we can sing of the Lord’s promised faithfulness and kindness forever. Tonight, we celebrate how this ancient covenant is reaffirmed through God’s deep abiding love for us in the birth of Jesus. The prophets kept this message of the holy covenant alive and our ancestors remembered it. Despite what is happening in our lives, we can also proclaim the goodness of the Lord’s covenant with us. We can be grateful that they told and retold it through the ages in all sorts of difficult circumstances and troubled times. In today's Gospel, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist and a Jewish priest had a great knowledge of this covenant of God’s mercy. He told it to his son and Luke retold it again for us. It keeps getting more special in its meaning for the people of God as no enemy, illness, pestilence and storm can take that away from us. We can sing the praises of God who gives us a new covenant that shines light on us in the darkness of our sin and guides us in the way of peace.

May the Lord grant us His mercy and encourage us to do the will of God! Amen!! Good morning and have a glorious day!!!