December 24, 2017

 4th Sunday of Advent B 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Romans 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38 With Christmas tomorrow…and so many celebrating Christmas this evening…I’m reflecting on what God has promised. This might seem very strange, but I really think we don’t realize or think about God’s promises. Maybe it’s because of fear…maybe it’s because I have a weak concept of who God is…maybe it’s that I can’t see how God can love this person that so often I am…maybe it’s because I feel that so often I have failed to be the person that I want to be and God needs me to be…so many maybe’s. In the first reading we hear how David had reached the high point of his career. His struggles with leadership are over. His battles have been concluded. He is enjoying his palace, free from worry from the surrounding countries. His thoughts are following this pattern: What Am I to do now? How about building a temple suited for the Arc of the Covenant? I am sitting in this splendid palace and the Arc rests in a simple tent. He talks to Nathan who suggests that he is the king, he is entitled to do anything he wants. Then God corrects Nathan’s mindset. The Arc of God held the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments and symbolized God’s presence. All of David’s successes have been accomplished by God. Now David is not to build a building that houses the Arc but God will build a proper house. “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 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.” Now the Hebrew word for house means both a dwelling place and a dynasty. God makes an everlasting promise to David, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before Me; your throne shall stand firm forever.” GOD PROMISES! In the second reading Paul begins by acknowledging that God has done everything for His people. It is Jesus who has brought God’s plan to fulfillment. God’s promised time has arrived. God’s plan has been accomplished through Jesus. May God be praised now and forever. These promises include us and make us a giant part of God’s plan. The Psalm Response says, “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” Do I? Or do I look at all I have done? Is it about me or is it about God? Am I grateful? I would like to take some time and look at few of God’s promises. God just totally loves each person, no exception, all the time. That it is about God. AND His promises are TRUE. - God promised to bless Abraham, through His descendants, ”I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” (Genesis 12: 2-3) Do I realize that God is with me and I am God’s blessing to my world? - God promised Israel that He would be their God and make them His people. “Ever present in your midst, I will be your God, and you will be My people; for it is I, the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of the Egyptians and freed you from their slavery, breaking the yoke they had laid upon you and letting you walk erect.” (Leviticus 26: 12-13) Do I walk proud and humbled that God cares for me?