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ADVENT REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is name and nature. A name is a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known. Nature on the other hand is the inherent features, character, or qualities of something or someone. King Solomon fulfilled his father’s (David) promise of building a temple or a place of worship in the name of the Lord where the Ark of the covenant representing the Lord’s glory will be kept. “Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Kings 8:17-21)

In dedicating the temple, Solomon acknowledged the nature of God. He said “there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day” (1 Kings 8:23-24) In other words, God is a loving and covenant-keeping God. Again Solomon acknowledged the nature of God as an omnipresent and prayer-answering God, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (1 Kings 8:27-30)

Dear friend, the key lesson of today’s reflection is that our chapels or temples have been built and dedicated to the name of the Lord, therefore if we come to the place of worship we must have faith that our loving Father is a covenant-keeping God and hears our prayers. In our case, Jesus, who is the Ark of the new covenant has assured us that “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23-24). Again, we are assured that God is omnipresent (everywhere) and listens to our prayers, in other words, His eyes and ears are with us everywhere including His Holy place of worship. When we call upon Him in His Holy temple He will respond. Beloved in the Lord, If we are to benefit from the name and nature of God then we must remain faithful to Him by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and following the perfect examples that He taught so that we will continually please the Lord through the enablement of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER

Almighty God we praise Your Holy name and acknowledge Your presence in our lives through the manifestation of Your nature. Help us to remain faithful to you all the days of our lives. Amen