December 22, 2015 Tuesday
THE WORD
1 Sam 1: 24–28 / Lk 1: 46–56
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
IN OTHER WORDS
When I was a missionary in Chile, I noticed how the Chileans would add the phrase “si Dios quiere” (If God wants) when expressing their plans, hopes and dreams in life. A father would say: “Mi hijo va a ser medico, si Dios quiere.” (My son will be a doctor, if God wants him to be one.) There is profound spiritual wisdom in such a simple phrase as it acknowledges with humility that God holds everything in His all-powerful and loving hands. We do make decisions and plans, but as men and women of faith we are called to seek and cooperate with God’s plan for us.
We are just three days away from Christmas. Will our world be better this Christmas? Will there be fewer people who are proud and more people who are humble? Will the hunger of many people around the world be satisfied? Will we really care to respond to the needs of the oppressed and the marginalized? Mary’sMagnificat is a strong statement of hope for those who are overwhelmed with reasons to give up and lose hope. Many of those who are immersed in this world’s misery are already tired perhaps of asking the question, “Will God ever keep His promise to us?” He surely will, but He also counts on the generosity and commitment of our response to His message.
Mary offered herself totally and undividedly to God’s plan. Her generosity was such that she allowed God to make of her the best instrument for the coming of His Kingdom on earth. Her dream embraced the whole of history and humanity. Her “Yes” to God had to do with the feeding of the hungry, the lifting up of the lowly, and the transformation of the love for power into the power of love. As a woman of faith, Mary had the courage to dream of a new earth especially for the poor and the marginalized. She firmly believed that God will bring His Kingdom to fulfillment among us.The reign of the proud, the ruthless and the mighty will finally come to an end.
Our world will change for the better if we can accept with humility and commitment God’s Word who desires to make His dwelling among us. Our lives will be very different if we can put God’s plan over and above our own, and follow it even at the expense of our own shortsighted dreams and visions.
- Fr. Edwin Fernandez, SVD (DWC, Vigan Ilocos Sur)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
