Daily Reflections - January 1, 2012

JUST AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD

You are certainly thankful you have reached this point in your life. You wonder how things would have been had you not listened to your parents. Their words still reverberate in your mind, “Just focus on the good that awaits you. Don’t allow the distractions of the present to take your mind away from what is essential and important. You’ll see — all your hardships will pay off in the future.”
And so now you’re here — your heart overflowing with gratitude to the ones who saw you through. “I told you so,” your mom enthuses. You just smile in agreement, for your heart cannot contain the joy of seeing yourself with all these blessings at your fingertips just as you have been told. Imagine the joy of the shepherds seeing the Infant Jesus lying in the manger. They have been told all these by the angel — the personages, the dimly lit cave, the animals, the lights, the star, the angels, the melodic sound coming from above. They all marveled at these, for they are exactly how the angel had told them.
The joy of a promise fulfilled — a vow kept, a pact realized, a covenant faithfully followed. There is no explaining how much joy there can be in the hearts of those who have seen these realized in their own lives. But the story in today’s Gospel is no ordinary story. It is an account of the beginning of God’s redeeming act. The promise of salvation has long been told. And in these events they gradually unfold just as it has been told. Just imagine how things would be when our vindication happens — to the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven; to the meek, the earth; to the mourning, consolation; to the hungry, satisfaction; to the merciful, mercy; to the pure of heart, beatific vision; to the peacemakers, divine sonship. How our hearts will be filled with joy, when all these are realized, at the end of our life’s journey, just as we have been told.Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

REFLECTION QUESTION:
Are you still waiting for the fulfillment of a promise made to you — either by God or another person? Don’t lose hope — it may happen this year.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the new year. May this year bring us renewed hope and trust in the fulfillment of Your promises to us.