CHRISTMAS, A CELEBRATION OF GOD’S MERCY. (Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week in Advent, Year C.)


Bible Study: 2 Samuel 1, 24 to 28. And Luke 1, 46 to 56.


In both of our readings today, we hear the joyful singing of two women, one who was once childless and persecuted as a result and the other in whose womb the greatest miracle ever to happen to a human being occurred. The both of them recognized the hand of God at work and they broke out singing songs of thanksgiving to God. Even the very words of their thanksgiving are quite instructive to us a their songs carry a lot of similarity.

Mary sang: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour…” Hannah sang: “My heart exults in the Lord.” Thanksgiving begins from the heart not from the lips. There are times we deceive ourselves saying we are singing praises to God yet even while we put our lips to work, our hearts are far away full of complaints and thinking of problems and unanswered prayers. If praises do not come from within, then, they only amount to entertainment for oneself or for those listening.

Furthermore, in their songs of thanksgiving, they both acknowledge the way God works. According to Mary, “He has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden… He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones… he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away…” And for Hannah, “The bows of the mighty are broken…those who were full have hired themselves out for bread but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger, the barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.”

Before God, no one can claim he or she is anything. Pride often blocks us from truly acknowledging God in our lives and God is not happy when we take glory in ourselves or try to discredit him or when we say “God has not done anything for me” forgetting that if not for God, we would not even have the mouth to say “He has not done anything.” Hence the saying “Pride goes before a fall.” When we are proud, we are saying to God, “put me down, bring me to my knees so that I can see how big you really are.” Mary considered herself as nothing but a handmaiden, a whole mother of God himself. This is quite instructive. Dear friends, “Who do you think you are?” “What do you have that you were not given?” “What give us the right to boast over anything you possess be it your goodness, your holiness, your money, your fame, your children, or whatever? Why do you think you are better than anyone else?

Mary and Hannah acknowledged that God was being merciful to them. In actual sense, Mercy is favour granted to one who does not deserve it. No one is ever worthy of mercy! Hence Mary noted: “His mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation…he has helped Israel his servant in remembrance of his mercy.” In Christmas we celebrate the mercy of God, that mercy that made God decide to become a human being thereby raising the status of humanity to the highest possible level among all living creatures, that mercy that God showed to us by giving his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to us to live among us and remain with us, that mercy that is immediately recognised in the name EMMANUEL, God with us.

What else can we do other than to give thanks like Hannah who in today’s reading fulfilled her promise by bringing Samuel, the very child she prayed for the service of God. “Oh my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And Samuel grew up right there in the temple and became one of the greatest prophets of Israel. Has God granted your petition? Or could it be that he has done it for you and you are yet to recognise it? Please don’t delay, redeem your pledges the house of God today.

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, I thank you, may my thanksgiving spring from the heart and let my very life itself be filled with concrete actions to express the depth of my thanks daily. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.

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