December 19, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Daily Readings: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Luke 1:5-25
The first reading from the Book of Judges narrates the birth of Samson at the intervention of God. God intervenes through a man of God who looks like an angel, someone who is awe-inspiring. Certain amount of disciplined way of life was required from the mother of Samson. It is because her son Samson is destined to be called a nazirite and he would deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines. We are told that God fulfilled His promise. Samson was born. The Lord blessed him and the spirit of the Lord stayed with him. He was a man led by the spirit.
The Gospel Reading tells us that being a priest who is at the service of God or being born in the priestly family or being righteous before God and living a blameless life according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord does not guarantee good health, progeny and prosperity as in the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
We cannot be sure that everything will go well with us. Even the appearance and message of the Archangel Gabriel and that too in the Temple of God could not convince Zechariah. He doubted and questioned the Archangel and ultimately also God.
As long as we rely on our strength, our gifts and abilities, our capabilities, we will tend to behave in the manner of Zechariah. We are to possess the humility of Elizabeth and declare, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people” (v. 15). Let us count on our blessings today!
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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