GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 23RD DECEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
1ST READING: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24
PSALM: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14
GOSPEL: Luke 1:57-66
THEME: WHAT WILL THIS CHILD TURN OUT TO BE?
Thomas Merton, a monk and a prolific writer, once wrote, “If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully the thing I want to live for. Between these two answers you can determine the identity of any person.”
The prophet Malachi had prophesied, “Behold, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple…I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse” (Mal 3:1,23-24).
The above prophecy was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist whose birth and naming is narrated in our Gospel text for today. His conception and birth were divinely planned and a purpose attached to his life. He came into the world to prepare the way for the public ministry of the one to be on Christmas day.
Pondering over the events surrounding the person of John the Baptist, we can say that no one comes into this world by accident. We are all born into this world to live for something. Each one of us is here on earth for a particular divine purpose. Our primary task, therefore, is to discover and live fully this purpose. Some have discovered it and are living meaningful lives. Unfortunately, some too have allowed their earthly lives to fade away, without knowing the “why” of their existence.
There are people out there who would seek to recreate you in the image and likeness of someone. They would want to make you a carbon copy of another human person; however, like Elizabeth who stood her grounds and insisted that the child shall be known as John (a name revealed by the angel), we too must stand our grounds and fulfil the specific purpose for which God brought us into this world.
The question that the neighbours and relatives of Zechariah and Elizabeth asked – “What will this child turn out to be?” – is one which each one of us must personalise and deeply ponder. What am I turning out to be? Does the way I live my life today conform to the plan of God for my life?
Prayer: Eternal Father, you do not create junks; the works of your hands are always beautiful. Help me discover who I am in Christ that I may live a meaningful and fruitful life. 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).