2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 / Roman 16:25-27 / Luke 1:26-38
Besides food and clothing, the other thing that we need is a house to live in.
When we have a house, we would want to make it a home, because home is where the heart is.
We would want to make our home comfortable and secure.
We would want to be able to sleep at home and have a good rest and feel safe.
And after a long day outside, we would look forward to going back home and relax.
And if home is where the heart is, then we would look forward to a time of love and companionship.
So, a house is not just about four walls with a roof. The house becomes a home when it is alive with love and companionship and family.
And the home becomes a source of blessing when there is prayer.
When the home is a place of prayer, God dwells there.
So, the house can become a home of care and comfort, and in turn it can become a sanctuary of grace and blessing.
In the gospel, the angel Gabriel told Mary she is to conceive and bear son, and He is to be called Jesus.
God will give him the throne of David, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and His reign will have no end.
But, Jesus must first find a home on earth, and it is to be in the womb of Mary.
It is for Mary to decide to say “yes” to God's call to be the mother of Jesus.
It is for Mary to decide to open her heart to God's call to let Jesus come into her life.
For Mary, it is like opening the door of her life to Jesus.
For Mary, to open the door to Jesus is to let Him be the centre of her life.
So, her life is going to change, and not change according to her plans, but according to God's plans.
And the angel Gabriel gave Mary an indication of what kind of change in life it would be like.
Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth's pregnancy. Elizabeth was childless and getting on in years, and yet she conceived, for nothing is impossible to God.
So, Mary had to decide whether to accept the surprising ways of God, or to decline it.
We may think that Mary would accept God's plan, just as we would gladly accept a multi-million-dollar masterpiece from the famous painter Vincent van Gogh.
While many would accept the painting gladly, not many will accept the painter readily.
By now, we would have already set up the Nativity Scene in our home.
To have the Nativity Scene in our home is one thing.
To accept Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we will have to consider.
It will be like giving the keys of our home to God, and let Jesus, Mary and Joseph teach us the ways of God.
But just as Mary made the decision, we too will have to make the decision.
When we are willing to let God into our house, it will be a blessing.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph will teach us how to make our house into a home.
The home is where the heart is.
May our homes and our hearts be filled with peace, joy, hope and love.
Because when God comes in, it is a blessing.
Let us open the door for Him.