＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When the king had settled in his palace

And Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house of cedar but the Ark of God is housed in a tent. “Nathan replied, “Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you.”

But that very night, Yahweh’s word cme to Nathan,”Go and tell my servat David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?

Now you will tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel.

I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. I will make your name great, as the name of the great ones on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace.

They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. Form the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies.

Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house. When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you; and I will make his reign secure.

I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do. your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

 

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 & 29

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle,  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has come and redeemed his people.  He has raised up for us a victorious Savior in the house of David his servant,  as he promised through his prophets of old,  salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes.

 He has shown mercy to our fathers and remembered his holy covenant,  the oath he swore to Abraham, our father,  to deliver us from the enemy,  that we might serve him fearlessly as a holy and righteous people all the days of our lives.

 And you, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the Lord to prepare the way for him  and enable his people to know of their salvation

when he comes to forgive their sins.

 This is the work of the mercy of our God, who comes from on high as a rising sun  shining on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way of peace.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

On the day before we celebrate the birth of our Savior we join Zechariah in praise as we say “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel!” Who is this God of Israel? This God of Israel is the God who is ever faithful even when Israel had time and again been unfaithful.

He is the God who remembers his Covenant even when Israel suffered from amnesia and forgot the works of the Lord. This is the God who comes to save SINNERS.

With great reason we must rejoice with Zechariah for like Israel we have had our own share of infidelities and forgetfulness of the mercies and blessings we have received time and again.

How blessed are we indeed to have a God who does not charge us according to our sins but accords us mercy and heaps upon us all grace upon grace! As Christmas comes around, we are invited to lood back and see how much blessings we have received as the year comes to an end.

Like David in the first reading we may desire to do something for the Lord, even build a house for the Lord. But God constantly reminds us, as he reminded David, it is the Lord who builds our house. The God of Israel, the God of David, asks us to have complete trust in our God and allow Him to work in our lives.