“A House for the Lord, A Dawn for the World” – Pope Benedict XVI
Today, we are invited to reflect on God’s promises; ancient, enduring, and now on the brink of fulfillment.
In the first reading, King David plans to build a house for the Lord, a permanent dwelling for the ark of the covenant. However, God redirects David’s ambition. God who will build for David—a kingdom that will endure forever. God is preparing a lineage through which the Savior will come. The house of David becomes the cradle of divine mercy.
The Gospel voices the prophetic song of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. His tongue, once silenced, now bursts in praise saying the Lord has “come to his people and set them free.” The long night of waiting is ending, dawn approaches. The Messiah is nearby.
Zechariah’s canticle is rich with hope: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us.” This dawn is Jesus Christ, Son of David, the fulfillment of the covenant, the light that scatters darkness.
What kind of house are we building for the Lord? Is it a house of prayer, of mercy, of welcome? Advent is not only about waiting, it is about preparing. Like David, we may have grand plans, yet God’s vision is always greater. He desires not buildings of stone, but hearts of flesh.
We may have experienced silence, doubt, or fear, yet God’s mercy opens our lips to sing again. Dawn is coming. We must not miss it.
Let us welcome the Light and let Christ shine into every shadow of our lives. God’s covenant is unbreakable. His love endures. Prepare the Way: Be prophets of hope in a world that longs for peace.
May our hearts become the house where Christ is born anew. Amen.
Brother Alex Brian Musoke, CFX