COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO THROUGH THE CHILD-BEARING OF THE HOLY VIRGIN GRACIOUSLY REVEALD THE RADIANCE OF YOUR GLORY TO THE WORLD, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT WE MAY VENERATE WITH INTEGRITY OF FAITH THE MYSTERY OF SO WONDROUS AN INCARNATION AND ALWAYS CELEBRATE IT WITH DUE REVERENCE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a; Ps 70:3-6,16-17 and Lk 1:5-25.
Both readings today, tell us that an impossible thing, according to human standards and understanding, has happened. The passage from Judges is about the announcement of the conception and the birth of Samson, whose mother was barren. The passage from Luke is about the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist, whose mother was also a barren woman, and whose parents, too, were old. Both families were in dire need of a child, to take away their public disgrace or shame and bring them joy and happiness.
God, the Almighty, has indeed done a great thing for the families of Samson and John the Baptist. This was possible for the two families due to their persistence in prayer.
They also had deep faith and trust in God, and they depended and relied on God, knowing that, it was only God who could answer their prayer and take away their public shame and disgrace.
We can learn a great deal from this. With God, everything is possible. When we have faith in God and depend on Him, but not on anything material or human person, our prayers will be answered, and our hearts' desires fulfilled.
We all have our dire needs in this life. There are also things in our lives that seem impossible for us to overcome or to achieve. These two scripture passages show us a way. We should pray persistently in faith, and without ceasing for our dire needs. We should emulate the persistence and faith of Hannah and Zechariah in prayer.
There is indeed, nothing impossible before God. He has his own time and his own ways of doing things to take away our public disgrace and shame. In our persistence in prayer, we should also give God the chance to purify our motives and intentions for which we pray. He alone knows what is good for us and at his rightful time, he will grant us what we need. May you grow deep in faith today. May you not lose hope and courage because you think God is not answering your prayers or that God is delaying in your life. Persist and persevere in prayer, your answer is just very close. Stay blessed.
NB, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR BEST WISHES, PRAYERS AND WHATEVER, ON THE OCCASION OF MY 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION YESTERDAY (18/12/2020). MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY. CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ME AS I DO FOR YOU EVERY DAY.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “AS WE GIVE THANKS, ALMIGHTY GOD, FOR THESE GIFTS YOU HAVE BESTOWED, GRACIOUSLY AROUSE IN US, WE PRAY, THE DESIRE FOR THOSE YET TO COME, THAT WE MAY WELCOME THE NATIVITY OF OUR SAVIOUR AND HONOUR IT WITH MINDS MADE PURE. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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