Thursday, December 21, 2006
Friday 3rd Week of Advent
December 22, 2006
Friday 3rd Week of Advent - Yr II
1 SAMUEL 1:24-28
After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along
with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and
brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When they had
slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him,
"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside
you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has
granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his
whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the
LORD there.
LUKE 1:46-56
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his
servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the
Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy
extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has
performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are
proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their
thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with
good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant
Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants
forever, even as he said to our fathers." Mary stayed with Elizabeth
for about three months and then returned home.
REFLECTION
During Mary's time, women and children were not counted as individuals
of society. A woman was recognized only in terms of her relationship
with her father, husband or son. When the angel announced to Mary that
she was to bear the Messiah, she promptly said "yes," even when she
knew she was in danger of being misunderstood as a woman pregnant out
of wedlock, a situation that could justify death by stoning. She was
full of faith that God would protect her. Even to Joseph, she did not
volunteer any explanation. She knew in her heart that God would do the
explaining.
God's choice of Mary to become the mother of the Messiah gave her so
much joy that during her visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, she sang
praises to God. She knew she was among the lowly in human society, but
God lifted her up so high among the rest of all humankind. This gave
her strength to face whatever sufferings lay ahead as consequences of
her choice to become the mother of Jesus. She expressed God's
greatness; she felt blessed to be the chosen one.
This speaks also of how God respects humankind's freedom of choice.
God, in all his splendor and glory, respects humankind's freedom to
choose his own destiny. He wanted humankind, through Mary, to become
active in the salvation of the world. How sweet to think about and
comprehend God giving us this importance despite our sinfulness. God
asked, and Mary said yes, and the world was never the same again.
How do we connect this "fiat" to our daily living? Day after day, we
also make choices, big and small. Choices that we think will affect
only us or our family, but choices that can also affect the world
without our knowing it. It is, therefore, very helpful to pray to the
Holy Spirit to guide us to make choices that would reveal God's will.
If and when God's will is manifested in our choices, only then will
heaven be here on earth.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the healing and speedy recovery of Teri.
- for the healing of Techie Paner.
- thanksgiving for the good health and guidance of the family of Manny
Alviar.
- for the speedy recovery and healing of Myra.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Marcus Ng
- In Memoriam (+): Mary Yang
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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