Reflection for Thursday, 4th week in Advent Season.
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Today's Word
Luke 1:62-63
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
Today's Reflection
God is predictable in a number of aspects like His love for us, His mercy and compassion, His kindness and forgiveness, etc.
But God is also a God of surprises, and certainly He is a God of graceful surprises.
As the prophet Micah says in the 1st reading, "and the Lord you are seeking, will suddenly enter His Temple".
It may be a sudden surprise but it is certainly a graceful and grace-filled surprise.
In the gospel, there were two surprises. The first was when Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and it was a graceful and grace-filled surprise, and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.
Then came another surprise, and that was when Elizabeth and Zachariah decided to name their son "John".
The name "John" means "the grace of God" or "God is graciousness", and indeed the birth of John and his name were graceful and grace-filled surprises from God.
So when things don't turn out as expected, or when we are surprised at the turn of things, let us believe it will be for the good, because God's ways of doing things are always for our good.
And may we gracefully accept the grace-filled surprises from God, and we will rejoice in thanksgiving.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice safe day