LOVE IN LITTLE THINGS

God is love, and his love manifests itself in the great and little things of life—the great things like the mystery of the Incarnation and the little things around us daily. The theme of love is our principal focus. Indeed, we celebrate the moment of encounter with God and one another that is life-changing forever.

Today, the Church celebrates the fourth and last Sunday of Advent before Christmas. As our preparation for Christmas is almost finished, we light the third purple candle and the fourth candle of our Advent wreath.

OUR THEME

Today’s readings allow us to focus on the love for God that makes us do his holy will. Our wills are to the Advent of Our Lord and Saviour. Love is the fulfilment of God’s will.

The readings remind us that Jesus is reborn every day in ordinary people living ordinary lives, who have the willingness to respond to God’s call and the openness to do God’s will.

These Scriptures suggest that Christmas should inspire us to carry out God’s word as Mary and Jesus did, in perfect, loving obedience to His will, with cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity.

FIRST READING: MICAH 5:2-5

In the Prophecy of Micah 5:1-4, the will of God is demonstrated to Israel in their history. Through the place, time and condition of the expected Messiah. Bethlehem-Ephrathah, the tiniest town among the clans of Judah, shall bring forth the Holy One, Christ the Messiah.

The Saviour of the world whose greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. He shall be at peace. In this way, the loving God will come into our human history in a humble and insignificant manner.

The central theme of the prophecy of Micah is that salvation would come from insignificant Bethlehem to unite the nation of Israel under God. God’s love in little and inconsequential things, places, moments, and people.

SECOND READING: HEBREWS 10:5-10

In the Book of Hebrews 10:5-10, the will of God and its fulfilment is priceless and incomparable to any sacrifice. Hence, Christ in his coming into this worldly declared: Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in. Behold, I come to do your will.

The author of the book of Hebrews presents us with a fundamental fact about Jesus Christ. That is, Jesus came to do the will of the Father and to teach us to do the same life out of our Christian life.  He is the only Christ, our supreme High Priest, who can affect a reconciliation between God and us. 

The Christmas story of the mystery of the Incarnation presents one indisputable fact about Christ. For him, the only and perfect sacrifice is obedience to the will of God.   

THE GOSPEL: LUKE 1:39-44

Luke presents us with the loving visitation of Mary to her cousin sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth recognizes the unique child that Mary carries within her through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN WHEN GOD MIXES WITH US

1. Zachariah’s house was filled with immeasurable and unfathomable joy and peace that flowed for God’s abiding presence. 

2. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied to Mary and Jesus fulfilling God’s will.

3. John the Baptist: the unborn baby in the womb of Elizabeth leapt for joy. 

4. Elizabeth and John recognized and acknowledged the presence of their Saviour and Mary, his mother. 

5. The Christmas story of two pregnant women of a generation apart is favoured high by the grace of God with an indescribable joy.

6.  It was a joyous encounter that manifested the completion of the will of God in the lives of these great women.

7. Mary offered a loving service of Mary to her needy cousin.

8. Finally, it presents the loving encounter of the unborn Messiah: Jesus Christ and his forth-runner: John the Baptist.

MESSAGE OF THIS SUNDAY

 We can prepare ourselves in these final days by listening to the Word asking for purity of heart and aligning our will with God’s Will. The beauty of Advent is that it gives us models to bring into line our wills with God’s Will.

1) We need to carry Jesus to others as Mary did.  Let us take the time to visit others this Christmas, to bring some inspiration into their lives, and hopefully to bring them closer to God. 

2) We need to bless and encourage the younger generation.   Elizabeth demonstrates the responsibility of the older generation to inspire the younger generation. We need others to recognize our gifts, to honour our true being, and to pronounce “the goodness of God upon us.”    

3) We need to recognize the real presence of Emmanuel (God is with us) and say “yes” to Him:  The Visitation of Mary reminds us that Christ continues to be present among his people.  Christ “dwells among us,” exercising His Holy Ministry through our Ministerial Priests and Deacons, the Bible, the Sacraments, and each of us in the praying community.  

4) Mary’s pilgrimage should be our model:  As we journey with Mary to the hill country, let us continue to contemplate our own life’s journey — its joys and sorrows, its triumphs, and its failures.    

Christmas is upon us: yet are we ready? Let us pray and ask the Lord, as we anticipate the magnificent celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Saviour. 

OUR PRAYERS

O Come! O Come Emmanuel and help us to transform our will into yours by doing the little and insignificant things that accumulate to the riches of your grace. By loving doing your holy will bring your kingdom: of love, peace, grace, light, justice and among us. May God enrich all our seasons of life through these heavenly gifts, graces, and blessings. Amen.   Maranatha!