Thrusday of the Third Week of Advent
December 19, 2019
Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17
Luke 1:5-25
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121919.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2019/19_12_19.mp3
It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines.
In the Old testament God chose some people to carry on the Work of Salvation plan. We can compare Salvation plan to a long Bridge which started before the Creation and will end at the last day of Coming of our Lord . In this Bridge of Salvation God appoints or chooses some men and women to construct his plan. God always chooses people who are poor in spirit who rely upon him fully, where there is no other option for them than God. We have two witnesses in today’s readings, Samson and John the Baptist , both the families completely relied upon God in prayer and humbleness. God intervenes among these families and chooses these people to prepare his plan of Salvation.
God equips these great people with Charism and lives with them in a visible manner doing mighty miracles and manifests his power. The only requirement to possess God’s spirit is to humble ourselves like Zachariah and Samson’s mother who relied upon God completely in good and bad time in worship , proclamation and service. When we humble ourselves and hope in him, the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed to us like it was revealed to Samson’s mother and Zachariah the priest.
During the Blessings , God put some conditions to these families , not to eat unclean food and drink wine and the child to be dedicated to the Work of God. Alcohol or Wine imbalances a person mind and leads the mind to do stupid things in life. The spirit of gluttony makes the man slave of the flesh and concentrates only on the things of the flesh and not of the spirit. The working for this material World makes a man to worship the Material world and forget the Creator.
Christmas or Revelation of the Incarnation of the Son of Man or introduction of the Salvation plan is a time to encounter God in our life in humility and complete reliance in his mercy. In this season God encounters every human who is poor in Spirit like Zachariah and Samson’s mother and send his angels to fulfill the desires of their heart . God puts three conditions in this Season of Christmas.1. Not to drink wine. 2. Not to eat like a glutton. 3.Dedicate ourselves to God’s Work of Worship,Proclamation and Service.