4th Sunday of Advent B Building for God My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we sometimes find ourselves in a situation where we are called upon to come and build for the Lord. There is a new Church building, a Social Centre, an Orphanage, a Youth Centre, a Clinic etc. We find ourselves called over and again to contribute to such projects. Some have been invited to so many of such programmes that they simply say to you, ‘I am tired’. Yet not everyone has the capacity to build for God. Is it not a favour then, that we are counted worthy to be part of those who will build a house God? If I fail to be a part of it, does it mean that God’s purpose will not be achieved? First Reading ( 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12, 16) David was the favourite King of Israel. Even today, he is still revered, for the special charisma he had to lead the people of Israel to conquer their enemies and to unite the twelve tribes into a kingdom. Today’s passage tells us about David’s old age, the rivalry among his sons was great. It had gotten to a situation where they could no longer wait for David to die before struggling to occupy the throne. They had begun to fight themselves over who will succeed their father on the throne. The hostilities of the neighbouring cities had not seized, his own home was not better. David knew if he should die without a solution to this struggle over the throne, it will not augur well for the kingdom. So David began to put things in order. This also led him to reflect on the life he was living in his palace, while the ark of God was still there in the tent like that of the shepherd out on the hills. He therefore decided to build a house for God. When this thought came to David, he called in his counsellor and prophet, Nathan, and informed him of this noble idea. Nathan thought of it as a good plan as well. But later that night God spoke to Nathan who returned to the king with the words of the first reading today. What David was looking for, peace in his family and consolidation of his throne, through succession by his sons were all granted but the wish to build a befitting house of worship for God was not granted him. The word ‘house’ as used by the prophet in this passage does not refer only to the material house but also to the family and to ‘posterity’. One may simply think that Nathan was just using those words to comfort the embattled king but God actually granted that which he had spoken through the prophet Nathan. When I sometimes visit some churches and see names on marble of those who had contributed to the erection of such buildings, I say to myself, that some of these people never knew how many generations will continue to remember their good deeds. Our every act of kindness is registered in the book of life as names engraved on marble. How wonderful it will be that someday when we get to heaven we will find our names so written in the Book of Life. Some do their own here on earth anonymously and so do not get the earthly applause due. But nobody is anonymous before God. David said, ‘ look I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent’. What are we doing with our wealth, our experience, our talents? If only we will stop and think like David, we may learn to use them well. Though God did not approve that David should build a Temple for him, David went further to source down the materials that will eventually be used by his successor to build the house for God. That is another lesson we have to learn from this great king. There are so many people who place obstacles on the path of their successors. They waste the resources at their disposal and go about borrowing money in the name of the society, group, state or nation. When they eventually are out of office, even the burden of servicing the loans will not allow their successor to put in place, any meaningful programme. Is that not happening in our nation too? Do we not have leaders who are mortgaging our future to further their own political agenda? What happens after their term of office? There is a great need for caution. Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) The Gospel today presents us with another figure in the person of Mary. While David could not build a temple for God in the first reading, Mary became the ark of the New Covenant. The appearance of the angel right from the Old Testament to announce a wonderful event has always followed this same pattern with that of Mary. In this case there was the appearance of the angel, Mary showed some fear, followed by the announcement, then the difficulties and objections which eventually were followed by the announcement of the signs that will follow. My dear brothers and sisters, what would have happened if Mary had refused the message of the angel? This can only be imagined as God himself had prepared her for this mission. How often do we like Mary say, ‘yes’ to God? Freedom, happiness and fulfilment are more likely to be found in the acceptance of such duty. The more difficult the task, to which we devote ourselves out of love, the more it will exalt us. In her response, Mary gives us a great example. She didn’t say to the angel ‘sorry, I have my own plans. I want to do my own thing’. Rather ‘let what you have said be done to me’. Mary made a complete gift of herself to God, and accepted the task He gave her. Even though the implications will be far reaching, she trusted that God would give her all the help she needed. She trusted so deeply in God that she was open to all possibilities. She gave up control over her future and let God define her life. Dear friends, life imposes so much duties on us. Besides duties to ourselves, there are duties to others, and to God. Where would the world be if everyone just thinks of himself and himself alone, and insist on doing just their own thing, their own way, seeking their own freedom, happiness, and fulfilment, independent of God and others? Those who accept duty in the way Mary did, may not find happiness and fulfilment in the eyes of the world and by human standard and judgement, but they certainly will find it with God. Let us be more open to the grace of God. One major problem of our nation and world today is the desire for power at all cost borne out of selfishness and self-centeredness. That is what advent should take away from us. May the good Lord make us more generous and open to his word, and help us to live holy in his sight at all times. Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:49:05 +0000