Sunday 21st December – 4th Sunday of Advent
Reflection: 2 Samuel 7: 1 -11, 16
WORKING IN LINE WITH GOD’S PLAN
Since the beginning, God in His wisdom has set plans for redemption so that we may attain the dominion into which we were created. In His faithfulness and love, God has made a covenant with all His children, a covenant sealed by the blood of His Son. But as it is in every covenant, each party has a part to play in order to enjoy the blessings of the covenant.
King David, at the peak of his reign thought it wise to repay God for the numerous victories he had given him by building shelter for the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s dwelling amongst the Israelites. Even Nathan the prophet of God agreed with this plan as it was indeed very laudable. Yet, God’s plan for David stood in contrast. Though He acknowledged David’s beautiful desire, He had plans as to who was to carry out the assignment of building Him a temple. It wasn’t David; it was going to be his son, the heir to his throne.
As we seek to please God, we are naturally drawn to offering up praise, thanksgiving and service to Him in different ways, usually within the limits of our human wisdom. As good as this is, let us bear in mind that our real focus in seeking to fulfill our own part of the covenant should be submitting to “God’s superior plans” as against our own schemes. The Obedience of faith which St Paul speaks about in Romans 16: 26 is our God given grace to truly surrender ourselves to God, trusting that only in doing in His will can we find the peace and satisfaction that our hearts yearn for. Indeed, only in submitting to His plans for our lives do we truly live out the covenant we have with Him.
Dear friends, let us constantly seek God’s will and submit to His plans, trusting that His plans are ultimately for our own good. Our faith must be backed with prompt obedience to God however difficult this may seem.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to live daily according to your plans. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 52 – God, who “dwells in unapproachable light”, wants to communicate His own divine life to men he created, in order to adopt them as his sons in His only-begotten Son. By revealing Himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to Him, and of knowing Him and of loving Him far beyond their own natural capacity.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55: 8-9 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-11, 16; Psalm 88: 2-5, 27 ,29; Romans 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38