A child is born – and the world is changed. His very presence caused changes that affect every one of us. We hear in the gospel, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God.” This is the most frequently repeated phrase in the bible – both the Old Testament and the New Testament – “do not be afraid!” With the gift of His very own son, God replaced fear with hope. It is the beginning of the most resounding statement of ‘do not be afraid, for I will have victory over death!’ God reassures us in both Word and action of his love for us and the hope which is ours. The Responsorial Psalm of both the 4th Sunday of Advent and the vigil of Christmas provides our joyous reply,“Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”
As Vincentians, we bring that hope to those we minister to AND we see that hope in every child – every person – to whom we minister. For we are all children of God and in every child that comes before us, regardless of age, resides the hope of this baby boy. He resides in each of them and each of us. When we sing the goodness of the Lord, we make His presence and His hope evident and real. As God reassures us continually of that hope, so too we must reassure others. Do we make His Hope and presence evident in our ministry? Do we reassure others? Do we sing the goodness of the Lord?! Rejoice! For on this day a child is born – and the world is changed!
Father, thank you for your Son! Thank you for hope! Thank you for faith! Thank you for love! Grace me with the reassurance of your presence in my life that I may make that presence evident to others that they may see hope. Help me to embrace your will for my life and the lives of those you bring before me that I may always do your will and that I might bring the reassurance others need to not be afraid! I pray all of this in your Son’s name. Amen
Deacon Mike