Fourth week of Advent

19 – 24 DECEMBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 19 DECEMBER 2022: JUDGES 13. 2-7, 24-25a; LUKE 1. 5-25 Thrust: When God blesses! Indicative: Our God is benevolent. He looks mercifully on the pitiable condition of those who trust in Him 1. “Barrenness” is a common theme in both the readings of the day. Barrenness is not just something physical. It was something despicable, It was a disgrace. It was considered a curse. The wife of Manoah in the first reading and Elizabeth in the gospel, were barren. 2. They pray earnestly to God. Interestingly, both women and their husbands were God-fearing and faithful. Specifically, we are told in the gospel that Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”. 3. Then why did they have to suffer the disgrace? What wrong did they do? No answer. And there is no point in arguing. But we can pick up some lessons: Suffering is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment. 4. All the more, good people suffer. God has His own plans. Patience and perseverance are needed. Especially those who have higher roles in God’s plans, those who receive higher favours, need to suffer more. 5. Certainly, God would intervene and remove the disgrace. It will be then a superabundant glory. But from the human part, a total consecration is required. Now is the call to think of our own interior and spiritual barrenness, dry and indifferent and negligent toward God and spiritual duties; and also our fraternal barrenness which is unconcerned and uncharitable toward others. Imperative: A barren life that is unproductive and fruitless is not pleasing to God. So let us rise up from our barrenness and become a blessing to others and blessed in the sight of God 20 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; LUKE 1. 26-38 Thrust: Fear not, for God is with us! Indicative: God has wonderful plans for us. At times and often times, how he executes them may not be clear and even confounding. But no worry! 1. The other day, through His angel, God encountered Zechariah and revealed His plan for the birth of John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Today, God through His angel encounters the virgin Mary and reveals His plan for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour in her virginal womb. 2. But if we analyse a little, the immediate consequences of such a happening, that is the birth of a child, are contrasting. In the case of Elizabeth, it is in fact, a great grace, a matter to rejoice. Her barrenness would be eliminated. But in the case of Mary, it is a matter of disgrace. Her dignity and integrity would come under suspicion. 3. Here comes the great depth of Mary’s faith. Once she knows that it is all God’s plan, there is no more question. No argument, no reluctance, no hesitation. No seeking concession. No request for making things clear to her husband and family. No worries at all about the future consequences of a suspect pregnancy. 4. Her faith comprises profound humility, wholehearted docility, and an unreserved surrender. She declares emphatically, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”. 5. A little note on the Salutation of the Angel to Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. Mary is worthy of the salutation by God Himself. She is full of grace. In a world where sometimes it is difficult to have even a fraction of grace, Mary stands as the fullness of grace. She is full of grace because the Lord is with her. Imperative: Like Mary, we are also called, not to be afraid when things go wrong or remain unclear. Being free is possible only when we find favour with God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 20 DECEMBER) Focus: Miracles happen when there is a combination of God’s grace and action and human reception and cooperation 1. God sends His angel to Mary with His plan of incarnation for salvation. He seeks and awaits her approval. This is precisely the nobility and magnanimity of God: Even though He can do very well without us, He wants to involve us and wants us to be His collaborators and sharers. It is only because He loves us. True love values others, and respects each person’s dignity and honor. 2. How much noble and magnanimous we are, being His children? How much do we see all others as persons of dignity and respectability? How much do we treat others with respect? How often and how easily do we despise others, showing false greatness and sticking to our own ideas, opinions, and prejudices? 3. Then from the part of Mary, what humility, docility, and surrender to God’s grace and plan! What humility! She does not get puffed up that God Himself is standing at His door for her approval. She does not forget her finitude as a creature before God’s infinity. In all humility, she is aware that the offer of her divine maternity is not her merit or greatness but God’s love and care. 4. What docility! She does not contest or argue or reject or doubt God’s plan. Even her question, “how it is possible to bear a son without rapport with her spouse” is a quite normal and legitimate question expected from a simple teenage girl, brought up in faith and morals. Perhaps bearing children outside the marital bond may not be a big issue for many in our modern society. But for her society and tradition, certainly, it was a matter of immorality and infidelity. But in her docility, she risked being labeled immoral and unfaithful. For her, what mattered the most was God’s plan and salvation of all, and not her human thinking and reputation. 5. Then what surrender!: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to your word!” Often we are so accustomed to these words of Mary that we take for granted and take light the immensity of Mary’s act of acceptance. It needed the guts of the spirit to utter such words of total surrender. What surrender! She has no discussion, no conditions, and no suggestions. She does not clarify how God would safeguard her reputation, or how God would let others know about her virginity and innocence despite conception. She does not request God at least to convince her spouse. She is not much worried about the myriads of uncertainties and risks that await her. Her only concern was to do God’s will and an unconditional ‘Yes’ to God’s will. 6. Now it is not enough to admire Mary for her humility, docility, and surrender. What about our humility, docility, and surrender? A little talent, a little capacity, a little money, a little position, how much we become arrogant? Even with regard to spiritual gifts, how easily do we succumb to the feeling that I am better than others, I am greater than others? 7. How docile we are? Even though many times God proposes, inspires, advises, and admonishes many things, how much we can be obstinate and fixated, clinging to our own ideas and calculations? Do we give more importance to our human intelligence, reasoning, and decisions, rather than God’s wisdom and promptings? Do we know better than God? Can we do better than God? 8. How often do we lack the spirit of surrender? We try to convince God that it is not right and possible to do His will. We have a hundred and one reasons to explain and justify why we cannot surrender to God’s ways. We fail to surrender only because I and self-interests become the centre of our whole thinking and not God’s will and the good of others. We may allow ourselves to be carried away by what is false, what is ignominious, what is unjust, what is impure, what is inaffable, what is dishonorable, what is vice and harmful. Instead, as St Paul in his Philippians exhorts us, our focus and striving must be on what is true, noble, just, pure, affable, honorable, virtuous, and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen. Direction: Today let us pray that we may become more and more humble, docile, and surrendered like Mary because only thus, we can receive the Savior and experience his saving touch. 21 DECEMBER 2022: SONG OF SOLOMON 2. 8-14; LUKE 1. 39-45 Thrust: Blessed is she! Indicative: Our God is one who contains everything and everyone. But He makes Himself contained in our small hearts and communities 1. There is a spirit of search and discovery in both readings. In the first reading, it is a passionate desire to meet the beloved. She craves to see his lovely face and hear his sweet voice. 2. It is all a matter of encounter – between two women of tremendous faith, between two historic mothers – Mary, the mother of Jesus the Saviour, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. There is also another crucial encounter between the awaited Messiah and his precursor. 3. This encounter is certainly a work of the Holy Spirit, prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not stagnant. One who is filled by the Spirit, cannot remain within the ego-demarcation. Spirit moves the person. 4. That is why Mary, already conceived by the Holy Spirit, goes with “haste” to Elizabeth. Mobility in charity is an essential sign and fruit of the Spirit. Lack of external movement toward the other is a sign of a lack of interior movement of the heart. 5. One who is moved by the Spirit cannot but move others. Mary was moved by the Spirit and so she was able to move with the Spirit both Elizabeth and her son in the womb. As a consequence, Elizabeth is led to words of blessing and appreciation. And the child in her womb leaps with joy, which is again an essential trait and fruit of the Spirit. Imperative: Mary is blessed because she believed in God and obeyed His will. We too will be blessed if we too believe in God’s words and obey (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 21 DECEMBER) Focus: The presence of the beloved fills the lover with exceeding joy. God is our greatest beloved and His presence must gladden us beyond measure 1. Today’s readings depict the joy of the encounter with the beloved. In the first reading, the lover-bride is passionately craving for meeting the beloved. The beloved-bridegroom is also burning with passion for her. When both encounter each other, the joy is unsurpassable. 2. We have a similar picture of encounters in the gospel. Already Mary encounters God’s grace at the Annunciation. She is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. She conceives the Son of God in her womb without any human intervention. If this is the work and the effect of the encounter from the part of God, from her part also Mary shows the fruits of this encounter. The immediate fruit is total surrender, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”. This faith flows out into charity. Thus Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth to serve her in her last months of pregnancy. 3. There takes place another encounter. It is an encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, the two greatest mothers. One is the mother of the Messiah himself and the other, the mother of the precursor of the Messiah. As a result of this encounter, there is an eruption of the Holy Spirit by which Elizabeth recognises the presence of the savior and the greatness of the vocation of Mary as the mother of the Saviour. 4. There is a further encounter between the two babes in the wombs, the two greatest. One is the Messiah himself and the other is his precursor. At this encounter, John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with joy. He already receives the grace of the encounter with the messiah. He is already anointed by the Holy Spirit. Direction: God encounters us unceasingly in numerous ways. He always reveals to us His will and plans. He is ever ready to transform our ordinary and dull situations into saving experiences and journeys. Are we ready to sense and cooperate? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: True faith receives and enshrines Jesus within. And one who carries Jesus certainly spreads Holy Spirit and joy At the Annunciation, Mary in all docility consents to be the Mother of the Incarnate Saviour. In deep faith and surrender, she receives and enshrines Jesus within her. She is filled by the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit moves her to Elizabeth in charity. Yes, if faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit, charity will be the real fruit of faith. Because true faith never keeps one sterile and stagnant. It will make one productive in a vibrant journey of charity. The scene of visitation clearly teaches us that true faith cannot simply remain confined to the self but flows out into charity. Mary’s faith leads her to sensitivity, magnanimity, and generosity towards Elizabeth. Mary does not fall into the presumption and false dignity of her motherhood. But in humility and nobility, goes to Elizabeth who was in need! Mary perfectly fits into the figure of the beloved in the Song of Songs in the first reading. God, the Supreme speaks to her, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one!” She listens to the voice of God, the Lover. She is filled with the fragrance and radiance of love and joy. With the same, she travels across the mountains and hills, to Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees her lovely face and hears the sweet voice. In fact, this loveliness and sweetness are not only hers but much more of Jesus that she is bearing within. Consequently, she would move both the mother and the child, Elizabeth and John the Baptist, with the Spirit and with joy. This is the simplest spirituality and mission of everyone: to give the Holy Spirit and joy to others. Direction: To radiate the Holy Spirit and joy is possible only when one carries Jesus within. True faith is ever contagious; it will affect and move the self with charity and will touch and vibrate others with the Holy Spirit and joy 22 DECEMBER 2022: 1 SAMUEL 1. 24-28; LUKE 1. 46-56 Thrust: My soul magnifies! Indicative: In a joy-hungry world, God wants to send us streams of joy to satisfy us to the full. Truly it is a “Joy-filling” mission 1. In today’s gospel, we have the famous Magnificat of Mary. At a first glance, Magnificat is a hymn of praise and joy. Mary bursts into an exuberant spirit of rejoicing. This joy is not ordinary happiness over some positive, pleasant experience. It is not because of some temporary, temporal gain. 2. The joy of Mary is something profound. It is deeply spiritual. It is an effect, an outflow of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing self-directed but singing God’s glory and power, benevolence and justice. 3. The expressions, “My soul… my spirit”, “all generations will call me ‘blessed’”, and “the Almighty has done great things for me” may look as if she is drawing our attention to her blessedness and greatness. 4. But it is all directed to God. The focus is not on how great she is but on how great God is. What is to be in the limelight is not she but God. “God is great and therefore He made her great”. 5. Her humble surrender leads to the joy of the Holy Spirit. The cause of this joy is not some individual favours. It is essentially God’s benevolence and justice. Mary sings joyfully because she sees and experiences God’s way of acting. He raises the lowly but lowers the mighty, He fills the hungry but sends the rich away empty. 6. Thus, true joy must be based on justice and mercy and not any other passing or peripheral satisfaction and gain. Any faith that does not contain faith and humility, mercy and justice, is not a true joy. Imperative: Our faith must lead us to true joy. And true joy is not being satisfied with some individual favours. Rather it should commit us to a life of justice and liberation. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 22 DECEMBER) Focus: When God intervenes and graces human situations, even the most deplorable and hopeless situations will turn into fruit-bearing and blessed experiences 1. All of us come across situations of success and praise. We achieve heights of greatness and bundles of laurels. In such situations, most of us fall into bouts of vanity, presumption, self-glory, and also pride. But Mary was different and a contrast. She was singularly graced to be the mother of the savior. She was recognized for this greatness by Elizabeth and was highly praised. 2. But Mary’s reaction and attitude were something remarkable. The more she was raised and praised, the more she becomes humble and Spirit-filled resulting in heavenly joy. The Magnificat, her song of praise is a concrete manifestation and testimony of this. There is no pride or seeking self-glory. She does not go around trumpeting her greatest dignity. 3. However, she does not also deny the greatness of the grace she is conferred with. This can be a case of false humility which some people fall into. Some in the name of practicing humility deny all the good that pertains to them. It is in a way denying God’s own goodness and greatness. 4. Mary shows us what is true greatness and humility. She attributes all her greatness to God’s goodness. Thus, all her greatness is actually not her own but belongs totally to God. Therefore, there is nothing to take credit for or to feel great. That is why, amidst all her new honor and glory, she remains humble. 5. The Magnificat is then not a song that sings her praises. It is deeply a song of God’s mercy and justice, His fidelity, and commitment. In mercy, He is benevolent to those who fear Him. He blesses and rewards the humble and does great things for them. In justice, he balances between the humble and arrogant: he gives strength to the humble but scatters the proud-hearted. He casts down the mighty from their thrones but raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things but sends the rich away empty. In fidelity to His promises and covenants, He continues to assist His chosen people. Direction: When God is with us, then there is no need to be sad. He never forsakes those who confide in Him and entrust themselves to Him. In everyone’s life, there is plenty to sing magnificats! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: When one encounters and experiences the boundless benevolence of God, one cannot but burst into a song of gratitude and joy Today’s gospel passage contains the marvelous Magnificat of Mary. It is truly an intense hymn of joy. It is a profound joy that springs from deep-seated humility and gratitude. Mary explodes into a song of joyful thankfulness because God had looked graciously upon her lowliness and elevated her. Magnificat reveals to us so beautifully the greatness of both God and Mary at the same time. Mary is great because she sees, accepts, and cooperates with God’s great plan of salvation. She is great because she humbly realizes that her greatness comes from God. Her humility is her greatness. Her nobility is her glory. True greatness never forgets the roots, never forgets that all is given by God and it is not one’s own exclusive merit or credit. The greatness that rides on pride and self-glory, the greatness that fails to be humble and noble in its attitude and approach, a greatness that is not grateful and does not attribute the due credit to God and others, is false and destructive greatness. In fact, such greatness is not greatness but only meanness. Thus, Magnificat teaches us true greatness: it is to humbly accept God’s will, gratefully exalt His greatness and generously cooperate with the same. On the other hand, Magnificat essentially discloses the marvels of God’s greatness. God is great because He is benevolent and just. In benevolence and compassion, He is abundantly generous toward the poor and the humble. And in justice and equity, He also levels the rich and the proud. Thus, Magnificat is also an indicator of social justice and liberation. It is truly a seedbed of true greatness wrapped in the gift pack of exuberant joy. Direction: The Magnificat is a great challenge against all tendencies of arrogance and self-glory on the basis of false greatness because it teaches that the more we are great, the more we must be humble because all greatness belongs to God 23 DECEMBER 2022: MALACHI 3. 1-4, 4. 5-6; LUKE 1. 57-66 Thrust: God’s special one! Indicative: The Lord has marvellous plans for us and our salvation. He specially chooses some to become powerful instruments in executing these plans. 1. The event of God’s incarnation is steadily and progressively unfolding. It is a beautiful embroidery with fine threads of annunciation, Joseph’s vision, visitation, Magnificat, the announcement of John the Baptist's birth, and today his birth and naming. 2. All through these episodes, what is very evident is God’s marvelous and meticulous planning and execution. But it is all for our good. In this mega project, besides Joseph and Mary, John the Baptist has a vital role. That is why his birth is very significant and is narrated with many details. 3. He is unique in many ways – a child of old age; an issue that eliminates the disgrace of the barrenness of his mother; a cousin of the Saviour; filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb; one who was totally consecrated to the Lord and so “he must not drink wine or strong drink (as per the angel’s directive to Zechariah); and one with whom was the hand of the Lord. 4. In fact, all the words spoken about him to his father Zechariah in his vision (Luke 1. 20-25) fit exactly the picture of the messenger in the first reading from Malachi. He is the messenger sent by the Lord. He will prepare the way of the Lord. “He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers”. 5. We too are called like John the Baptist to be the precursors of the Lord, to prepare the way of the Lord. But it is not a status, position, or dignity. It calls for a true imitation of him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be totally consecrated to Him without any drink or vice, to speak and stand for God, and accomplish the mission of repentance and renewal. Imperative: It is not enough that we admire John the Baptist for his austerity, authenticity, and courage. We need to be charged with the same spirit (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 23 DECEMBER) Focus: Very many times we may not be able to grasp the will and ways of God. They can be disconcerting and upsetting in the sight of the world. But God has His own ways and all of them are purposeful 1. In the gospel, we have the dramatic scene of the birth of John the Baptist. His birth is a concrete example of how God acts graciously but often beyond human comprehension and logic. Elizabeth was barren for many years. But God grants her a son in her old age. Already while in the womb, he encounters his master at Mary’s visitation. His father Zechariah remains mute till his son’s birth, as a sign of the fulfillment of God’s grace. At his birth, his speech is restored and he blesses God. Unlike the custom, John the Baptist was not named after his father but a totally different name. It was clearly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that both Elizabeth and Zechariah suggested the name of ‘John’. 2. John the Baptist was named ‘John’ which means “Yahweh is gracious”. True to his name, God has always been gracious to Him. That is why the gospel attests, “the hand of the Lord was with him”. The words of Micah in the first reading very much apply to him. John the Baptist is that messenger of the Lord sent before him to prepare the way for the Lord. He is the messenger of the covenant in whom the people delight. 3. He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like silver and gold, till they present the right offerings to the Lord, that will be pleasing to him. He is the Elijah, the prophet sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Direction: Our vocation is exactly like the vocation of John the Baptist. All of us are called to be messengers of the Lord to prepare the ways before him. We need to be messengers of the covenant, especially restoring the lost unity and dignity between God and His people, and between parents and their children (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God never abandons those who are humble and just. He changes their misery into glory, shame into honor, weakness into power The birth of John the Baptist is a clear pointer to how God manifests His compassion and power to those who are humble and just. Even in their old age, in a humanly impossible situation, God grants a son to Zachariah and Elizabeth. Yes, He never fails the trust of His faithful. He never forsakes them in their misery. He changes barrenness into fecundity, disgrace into dignity, grief into joy, helpless silence into rejoicing proclamation The birth of John the Baptist is also a clear indication of how God is deeply concerned for our good and salvation, and how He plans and implements this plan through the birth of John as the precursor of the Messiah. He is destined to prepare the way of the Lord. God is truly passionate about us. He is clear about His purpose. He is meticulous in His planning and execution. He is relentless in His measures. The birth of John the Baptist is also a reminder of our vocation, mission, and destiny as well. God has a plan for each one of us. He has destined us for salvation and eternal bliss and communion. We are called to experience and enhance this saving grace. We ought to strive constantly to retain it and remain graced. We must also radiate the same to others, like John the Baptist. He was humble and faithful to live up to his call and to carry out his mission. Direction: Blessed are those who never give up their hope but persevere to confide in God, and submit to His holy will! 24 DECEMBER 2022: 2 SAM 7. 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; LUKE 1. 67-79 Thrust: Never forget God’s mercies! Indicative: In a world where ingratitude is becoming a norm, we are expected to be loud and clear voices of gratitude and praise for God’s infinite mercy and generosity 1. Today’s gospel contains the Benedictus of Zechariah. As we know, this has striking similarities with Mary’s Magnificat. The very fact that these both became integral parts of our Lauds and Vespers indicates their preeminence. 2. They are not mere praises by two individuals. The Benedictus in today’s gospel is not merely an exuberant vote of thanks. It is actually the fundamental gratitude that the whole owes to God. It is the voice of a humble soul that has experienced the magnitude of God’s mercy and proclaims it aloud. 3. The Benedictus is a rich container, manifestation, and acclamation of God’s saving nature, and actions. It underlies What God is to us, what He does, What happens to our life, and what we are expected to do. 4. God is the most “blessed” because He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation. He shows tender mercy and renews the covenant. He gives light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. He would save us from our enemies. 5. This experience of God leads to a duty of a way of living and a mission of doing His will. That is, we are called to be prophets, to prepare his ways. We must serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days. And we need to work to give knowledge of salvation to all in the forgiveness of their sins. Imperative: As we experience God’s immense mercy, we must be profoundly grateful. This gratitude must be translated into an authentic way of living and concrete actions of renewal (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 24 DECEMBER) Focus: The Lord comes to us in tender mercy and that day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of the peace 1. The greatest message of Christmas is, “God wants to reside amidst us”. He wants to pitch his tent among us. But this residence is not a matter of place. He does not want to reside merely in places however glamorous and splendid they may be. That is why, when David proposes to build a temple for the Lord, the Lord refuses it. God makes his intentions clear. He wants to reside not in material places but in human hearts and communities. 2. The real house of the Lord is where He reigns, where His kingdom of love and justice is established. This is what is implied in the promise of God to David in the first reading from 2 Samuel: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever”. A perpetual and righteous kingdom would mean God’s own kingdom of righteousness and fidelity. 3. Wherever God resides, there is His residence and house. The house of the Lord is the presence of God. Accordingly, every human heart, human life, human family, and community, in fact, the whole of creation becomes the house of the Lord. 4. Therefore, building a house for the Lord primarily invites us to turn our own hearts, lives, and communities into fitting dwelling places for God. The words of Zechariah become valid guidelines in this direction. 5. Building a house, preparing a dwelling place for the Lord implies the following: we should be saved from our enemies; we should constantly remember his holy covenant; serve Him without fear, being delivered from the hands of our enemies, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life; go before the Lord to prepare His ways; to gain knowledge of salvation; to obtain forgiveness of sins; to walk in the light and in the way of peace. Direction: The more we create a place for God in our heart, life, and community, the better place we are building for God. Really how foolish are those who invest crores on building temples for God but turn their hearts into dens and markets? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God wants to dwell with us, and He needs a dwelling. But this is not a man-made structure. Rather, it is the human heart and the human community. In true devotion and passion for God, David intends to build a magnificent temple for God. But God makes it clear that He prefers to reside not in material buildings and structures, but in the heart and community. He is a God who abides in hearts and in the believing community. He is more interested in and committed to building hearts and communities. He wants to reign over hearts. This is the mind and heart of God. And one who reflects and realises the heart of God cannot but rejoice and praise Him. This is what happens in the case of Zachariah. God does a super miracle in the life of Zachariah and Elizabeth. He grants them a son at their ripe age. Further, He also grants that son a unique and extraordinary role in the plan of salvation. But this is not just a family favor. This is the way of God's mercy towards the whole people of Israel and the whole of humanity itself. One who realizes this God's mercy in action through history, cannot but burst into a song of gratitude, wonder, and joy. Zachariah's canticle is not just a pious prayer or praise of devotion. It is an extolling of God's benevolent and powerful ways of intervention in the lives of humans. Like Zachariah, we also must constantly extol the marvels of God. But such exultation is not only in praise and worship, not only in some externals like activities or even structures. Rather, it should be manifested and testified in “building the heart”, one’s own heart, and the heart of communities. Direction: Any favour and blessing from God is not a private affair, but is a sign and indicator of the immensity and perpetuity of His care and mercy.