Message

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Message

Prophetic   Writings

Reveal   Proclaim   Manifest

The Promises of the Lord

Incarnation

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Romans 16:25 to 26

To Him who can give you the strength to proclaim the message of the Good News, in unity with the revelation of the truths that were kept hidden for many ages but are now revealed to us in the prophetic writings and, according to the promises of the Lord made known to all nations to bring about the obedience born from faith.

Reflection

Have you ever received a message that made you very excited?

I remember a phone call that I got one night from our son-in-law asking for my blessing as he was going to ask our daughter if she would marry him. I was so thrilled with this good news and so happy for both of them. I immediately told my wife when I got off the phone and she was so happy as well. 

Paul in this reading from Romans has an amazing message. It is a message of Good News. It is the message that Jesus has come to dwell with us. Jesus is fulfilling the promises that were made long ago. God will be one with us!

It is a message not just for us. Not just for a few people. Not just for the most intelligent, the wisest, the most talented, the richest, or the most influential. It is a message for all nations.

The Love of God is not limited. It comes to all who can accept the revelation of Jesus in faith. The prophets have prepared us for this message. They speak of the promise of God to send us a messiah, an "anointed one". 

We ask God for the strength to accept this message and to share it. It is Good News. We can not just keep it to ourselves. God is asking us to share it with everyone we meet.

We share it more by the way we lead our lives than by our words. We share it when we reach out to those in need and work for justice and fairness in our community. As Kathy's photo shows us the power of light shining forth, we are called to be the light in our world today.

We ask for the strength to be that light as we proclaim the message that the Light has come into the darkness at the Incarnation. 

The Light is with us.

Always!

1. Can you remember a time when you received a message that made you very excited?

2. What is the message of the Incarnation?

3. Why is the message of the Incarnation for all nations?

4. How do you try to share the Good News of the Incarnation?

5. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)