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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