EFFECTING GRACE IN HUMAN CONDITION

First Reading: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16
Second Reading: Rom 16:25-27
Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

We are on the last Sunday as well as a day before Christmas this year. As we are almost into the festivity of Christmas the readings of this Sunday invite us to focus on King David and Mother Mary. The desire of King David had significant role in the birth of God as human person in his lineage. In the first reading we see the desire of David to build a well-furnished house for God to reside in his city. David sees his condition of pomp and glory as gift from God and to honour God in thanksgiving, David desires to build a house for God in his city. In ancient world kings build temples near their palace, so that they feel the closeness of God as well as try to control God. In the case of YHWH, it is God who controls kings. It is God who appoints kings and rulers over His people. Therefore, He can neither be controlled nor confined to some particular places by humans. King David desires to give best place for God to reside in his kingdom. On the contrary, God chooses David and his lineage as the best place to pitch his tent – Emmanuel. The desire of David to build a house for God gains the grace of God, who promises to make the house of David as His permanent house. For He says: “the Lord will make you a house” (1 Sam 7:11). Thanksgiving effects more grace! God says that human king – David – cannot limit Him into any human made temples, rather He chooses to reside in the temple of His creation – human being. Yes, among all creatures human being is a conscious person, who is aware of his created nature. S/He is the glory and honour of entire creation. In this perspective, the inner most self of the human person - the sanctuary of human person – could be the greatest, the highest and the best place for God to make His dwelling.

In the Gospel too, the scene of the annunciation is introduced by associating Mary with the family of David through St. Joseph. The prophecy of Nathan about the Son of David had both proximity and remoteness. Solomon is the fulfilment of the prophecy in proximity, whereas Jesus, the Son of God is the fulfilment of the prophecy in remoteness. King Solomon builds physical temple for God of Israel to make His dwelling among His people. Jesus, the Son of God in/through/by His very being builds the temple of God among his creation. Mother Mary is the first temple in whom God makes His first physical dwelling. She is the first one to receive the salvation of God which St. Pauls says in the second reading as revelation kept hidden for ages but disclosed in God’s time through His Son Jesus (Rom 16:25-26). The meaning of name Gabriel is heroic act of God, Mary is the general name for human condition and Jesus means God saves. If we connect all these three names, we grasp what is going on in the annunciation scene: by the heroic act of God in human condition God saves us. Yes indeed God saves us in our human condition. He perfects our nature through His dwelling among us.

For Christmas we build cribs in our churches and houses. To us God says the very same thing He told to David: I will make you a house. Our building of cribs and our desires surrounding this festive season are almost equal to King David’s desire to keep God close to oneself. This effort of ours could possible effect the grace of God to build His crib in our very self – in our inner most self. So, allow God to build His crib in your inner most self which is a sacred place, accessible only to you and to your God. Mother Mary through her YES, allowed God to pitch His tent in Her womb and in her house thereafter. St. Joseph through his obedience to the will of God allowed God to reside in His house. We too through our submission to the will of God and obedience to the Commandments allow God to dwell in us. For “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (Jn 14:23). Wishing you all a desirous Christmas this year. God bless!

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