2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 / Luke 1:67-79
By now, most churches would be logistically prepared to celebrated Christmas.
Churches would have been decorated with Christmas themes, the crib would have been laid out, the candle-stick and lanterns polished, the liturgical vestments ironed and hung and ready to be worn for this evening's liturgical celebrations.
Yes, everything in the house of God would be prepared and ready to celebrate the birth of the Son of God. That's how we would like to think.
Just like in the 1st reading, king David thought that since he had all the resources and means available, he could build a magnificent house for God. The prophet Nathan thought likewise.
But God had other plans. Through the prophet Nathan, God asked David, "Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in?"
Not only was God telling David that he was not the one to undertake the task, but a deeper reflection of that statement will also make us realize that who are we, mere mortals to do anything for God, especially when it comes to building God's house.
As Ps 126 puts it, "If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labour."
In fact, God has already built His house in us, right here in our hearts. So it is our hearts that we must prepare for God to visit us.
As Zechariah proclaimed in the gospel, " Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited His people."
God visited His people when Christ was born on that first Christmas day. God will visit us again as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
May our hearts, which is the house of God and the Temple of the Holy Spirit, be cleansed and made worthy to welcome the Prince of Peace, and be filled with love and joy as we celebrate Christmas.