Reflection for Friday third week of Advent 

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore


We Begin, Today, an “Octave” of Immediate Preparation for the Birth of CHRIST. 

Today's Word 

Mt. 1: 15- 17 

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. 

 Today's Reflection 

The Perfect Plan of GOD

Matthew’s Gospel Present Us with 3 Series of 14 Ancestors, a Long Genealogy of JESUS' Ancestors. Abraham Begins the Genealogy & JESUS Concludes It. Though there are many Interesting Facts that a Scripture Scholar could Take from This Genealogy & All who are Named in It, the heart & Soul of Its Meaning is Found in Verse One: “The Book of the Genealogy of JESUS CHRIST, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”  

This Shows the Direct Link from the Promise GOD made to Abraham, to Its Fulfilment in the Person of the Son of GOD.

One Thing We See in the Fulfilment of This Promise, is the Fact that GOD is Faithful.  True, It Took Centuries for HIS Promise to Abraham to be Fulfilled, but It Happened.

This also Tells Us that GOD'S Timing & HIS Ways are Often Different than what We may at 1st Conceive.  We can Come Up with Many “Good” Ideas & Hope They will Come to Pass.  But, all too often, when They Do Not Turn Out Immediately as We had Hoped for, We can Get Discouraged.  

Learn the Lesson, Today, of GOD'S Perfect “Long-Term” Plan.  HE Knows what HE is Doing & HE is Bringing about HIS Plan for Us All.  HE is Slowly & Intentionally Guiding Us along the Path that Leads to Salvation & Peace.  It may Not Be the Way We would Do Things, but It is the Perfect Way.  

Reflect, Today, Upon the Plan GOD Has for Your Life.  Does HE Call U to Patience & LongSuffering?  

Does HE Require a Trust that is Demanding & Absolute?  

Does HE Require a Surrender of Your Own Ideas & Your Own Ambitions?  Yes, HE Requires All of This & More.  Recommit Yourself to the Perfect Plan in the heart of Our FATHER in Heaven & HE will Guide U Each Step of the Way.

LORD, I Know YOUR Ways are Perfect & that YOUR Plans are so often Not My Own.  Help Me to Let Go of My Own Ideas & Desires & to Surrender More Deeply, in Trust, to All that YOU Have Prepared for Me.  LORD, YOUR Wisdom is Perfect. 

JESUS, I Trust in YOU.

Good Morning 

GOD Bless Us All

Have a pleasant Friday