GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND DECEMBER 2016
THURSDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
1ST READING: 1 Samuel 1:24-28
CANTICLE: 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8
GOSPEL: Luke 1:46-56
THEME: MARY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL
A beautiful feature of the season of Christmas is the singing of carols. I always feel nostalgic anytime I hear two or three particular Christmas carols; they send me down memory lane and evoke in me sweet sentiments of the “good old days”.
There is, however, a particular Christmas carol that is sung in the Gospel of Luke but often not heard at the shopping malls and drinking spots during this season. It is the Christmas carol of Mary. It was first sung in the home of Elizabeth according to the narrative of Luke.
Elizabeth had made profound prophetic statements about Mary and the fruit of her womb – “blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…” (Lk 1:42). In response, Mary opens her mouth and sings a song of praise, popularly referred to as the “magnificat” (cf. Lk. 1:46-55).
Inherent in the “magnificat” are themes proper to the Christmas season and therefore makes it the oldest Christmas carol. It speaks of the fact that God who takes delight in the lowly (cf. Lk. 1:48) exalts those of low degree but puts down the mighty from their thrones (cf. Lk 1:52). In the lowly, he does great things (cf. Lk 1:49) and makes them to stand out as blessed from one generation to the next (cf. Lk 1:48).
Like the morning sunrise that dispels the darkness of the night, the rays of Christmas are gradually permeating the season of Advent. As we gradually enter the season of Christmas, Mary’s carol reminds each one of us that the blessing of God descends on those who condescend and associate with the lowly. To wit, the “eyes of God” looks at lowly people and places during Christmas.
The carol of Mary prepares us for the solemnity of Christmas itself and suggests to us the attitude we need to cultivate in order to grasp fully and meaningfully what we celebrate on Christmas day. Therefore, let every proud person renounce his/her pride and put on the garment of lowliness (humility) for without humility you will never find the manger of the saviour.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. I renounce pride and put on the garment of humility as I expectantly look forward to your coming. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).