GOD KNOWS BEST

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

 

GOD KNOWS BEST

 

 “May it be done to me according to Your word.” – Luke 1:38

 

A young lady took up Nursing to fulfill her dream of going abroad. But try as she might, she flunked the board exams several times. Since she couldn’t apply for a nursing job, she applied in an airline company. Having the looks and the height, she qualified as a flight stewardess.

She has been a flight attendant for more than 10 years and is now based in Europe. Her dream of going abroad was fulfilled but not in the way she planned it.

I believe that Mary also has her own dreams: to be a loving wife and mother. God fulfilled her dream but with a twist. She became the mother of God. Mary said yes to God even if she didn’t know what lay ahead. She submitted to the will of God and because of her obedience, salvation came to us through her Son, Jesus.

We all have our own plans and dreams. But there are times that things don’t go our way and our life takes a different turn. We only need to trust God and allow Him to direct our paths. For He alone knows best. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the decision of the Lord that endures.”

 

Lord God, take charge of my life. I surrender everything into Your care — my plans… my dreams… my future.

 

St. Harold, pray for us.

LIFE IS A CYCLONE !

 

Preaching a homily for today is a challenge. We are very much into the season of Lent, when we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. But the liturgy for this day asks us to commemorate the angel’s announcement to Mary about her motherhood to Jesus. This makes us think of the joys of Christmas, when nine months from now we will celebrate Jesus’ incarnation.

This is life. It is not a defined, layered and laddered experience. Life is a cycle, or more accurately, life is a cyclone: never-ending, simultaneous, overlapping, spiraling, web-like occurrences engaging us altogether. There are no pure moments of joy, as there are no pure times of pain and sorrow. There are wakes and funerals in December; there are baptisms and marriages in March and April. One family mourns as the world watches fireworks during the New Year. Endings easily become beginnings; beginnings are automatic endings of some things. Yes, come to think of it, there are really no real moments of “rests.” The cycle and the cyclone goes on and on.

In the midst of the maddening experiences we have about life, for  us Christians, there is one important revelation: Jesus has gone through all our human experiences. In fact, Simeon called Him the “sign of contradiction.” His birth was at the same time welcomed by the poor of Yahweh, feared by Herod and his court, questioned by the experts of Jewish Law.

Jesus comes as Immanuel, that is, “God-with-us.” Today, this is what matters as we have the liturgy of the Annunciation to Mary. Today, we thank heaven for stepping into our earthly and human affairs. Today, heaven steps into human affairs not by changing everything in an instant, but by simply joining in. Isn’t this cool?Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

In what way is your life today a cyclone? What web-like flow of events and emotions are you going through now? Ask Jesus, Immanuel, to step into your life.

 

You are calm in the storm. You give joy amidst the sorrow. You are the only One who will always be there. Thank You for being Immanuel.

 

St. Harold, pray for us.