DIRECTOR’S CUT

“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” – Luke 1:18

“Sabi nanga ba eh!”(I knew it!) You will hear this every time my family watches a movie. With a know-it-all tone, someone will narrate the next scene with conviction, as if that person wrote the script.

       This is my personality even outside the movie house. I always need to know everything so I can control everything. I plan ahead. I see to it that everything’s fixed. Uptight and restless are my traits. But eventually, I got tired.

       The Lord threw in challenges in my path that reminded me that I’m not the director of my own life. He is. I can’t control everything that happens: I can’t bring my mom back to life nor could I dictate what people think. The Lord assures me that all I need to do is to sit back and trust Him, even if I don’t understand as of the moment.

       Our faith in God starts when we concede to His plans. It may be difficult now, but a life lived in total dependence on God, is a life of comfort and peace.

       Make God the director of your life and, rest assured, it will be a box-office hit! Pia Angelica Suiza (piasuiza@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Where is God leading you?

Jesus, make my faith in You grow bigger than all of my worries combined. Show me the way to You. Amen.

Today, we have the story of another miracle birth, i.e., of a man who will become a great leader of the Jews. Who knows if the person we spoke to on the street is a major part of God’s plan for the future of the Church? I very much doubt that Pope Benedict XVI thought he would become pope when he was a teenager. The point I want to make is that with God all things are possible, so let’s never discount the possibility that God has great things in store for us.

2 There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. 4 Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. 5 As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.” 6 The woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.’” 24 The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; 25 the spirit of the Lord stirred him.

R: My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 5 For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. 6 On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. (R) 16 I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord; O God, I will tell of your singular justice. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R)

All throughout the history of God’s work with His people, there have been people who have doubted. Zechariah is one of them. He is a great example for us as he ultimately repents of his doubt and signifies his willingness to rejoin the plan of God as He desires it. If we sin and fall short of full obedience to God’s will, let us not despair but repent and move back into the ambit of God’s plan for our lives.

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, 9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. 10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, 11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, 16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” 18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. 20 But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

think: If we sin and fall short of full obedience to God’s will, let us not despair but repent and move back into the ambit of God’s plan for our lives.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Wisdom 9-12

PRIESTLY -ROYAL -PROPHETIC PEOPLE

The whole of our lives, we seek to please Jesus. It is His right to receive all our praise, since what He has done is amazing love. Of course, what Jesus has achieved is a pure gift, i.e. offering His life for us. We have not merited it or even deserved it. It is pure unconditional love.

       Jesus praises John in the Gospel as a prophet. A prophet stands on the truth and is not convinced by false error and the arguments of man. He is not like a reed easily blown away by the wind of false teaching and opinion. Neither, as Jesus tells us, is he like a fine man dressed in all regalia. He is a messenger of God and forerunner to the ministry and person of Jesus. God expects nothing less than faithfulness on our part. Jesus is the faithful one of God. The faithfulness of Jesus, of John, of Mary and of all persons we meet in the Christmas story are examples for us to imitate.

       The Church calls us to be a priestly-royal-prophetic people. Priestly in the sense that we offer our lives to God in a sacrifice of praise, allowing God to reign over our lives, families and society. Royal, in the sense that we are co-heirs of Christ, who is King and Lord of the world, living virtuous lives fit for the Kingdom of God. Finally, prophetic, in the sense that our lives are to be a witness to the love of God.

       By our baptism we are called to dutifully proclaim the Kingdom of God in our daily lives. Others will look upon us and see that we are messengers of God, upholding the truth, respecting the dignity of the human person and loving those in our midst. By way of our priestly, royal and prophetic role we are being faithful to God.

       Today, let us remember that we are a priestly people, a royal nation, a people set apart to glorify the wonders of God. Let us seek the Lord in our advent reflections and be faithful in prayer, sacraments and charity to our neighbor. Let us welcome Jesus with pure and loyal hearts this Christmas. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How can you live out your priestly, royal and phrophetic roles?

May I praise You, Lord, with my life and love. Be pleased with this sacrifice I offer You. Amen.