2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom. 16:25-27; Lk.
1:26-38
The
Old Testament gives many accounts of humanly impossible things that God
had done for his people. In order to liberate the Israelite from the
bondage in Egypt, God had performed many miracles. Moses turned the
water of the river into blood (Exodus 7:17). Moses smites all the borders of Egypt with frogs (Exodus 8:2). Moses sent darkness in all the land of Egypt for 3 days (Ex 10:22). The first born of the Egyptians were struck by God. Moses made the red sea divide into two and make a way for the Israelites to pass through. Even after they had settled in the Promised Land God continued his mighty deeds to protect his people. Every Israelite child grew up listening to the mighty works of God; and every Israelite child was taught that nothing is impossible for God.
water of the river into blood (Exodus 7:17). Moses smites all the borders of Egypt with frogs (Exodus 8:2). Moses sent darkness in all the land of Egypt for 3 days (Ex 10:22). The first born of the Egyptians were struck by God. Moses made the red sea divide into two and make a way for the Israelites to pass through. Even after they had settled in the Promised Land God continued his mighty deeds to protect his people. Every Israelite child grew up listening to the mighty works of God; and every Israelite child was taught that nothing is impossible for God.
When
the Angel of God visited Mary, the Angel told her two humanly impossible
things: that she would conceive and bear a son; and that Elizabeth had
conceived in her old age. When Mary expressed her doubts, the Angel reminded
her that "nothing is impossible for God."
Tony
Melendez was born without arms. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from
Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten,
when he disposed of them. "I didn't feel comfortable," he explains,
"I could use my feet so much more."
His
proficiency with his feet extended to more areas than just day-to-day care. He
remembers, "At first, I started playing push-button organ. Then in high
school I began playing around with the guitar and harmonica." He also
began writing his own songs. Whether it was "playing around" with
music or merely adjusting to a normal high school routine, Tony never let his
handicap get in his way.
Tony
has travelled across the United States and sixteen foreign countries, making
countless television appearances. He has been the recipient of numerous awards
and honours. Tony Melendez has one main message: with God, all things are
possible. And he proves exactly that with unbelievable guitar playing
ability...using nothing but his feet.
When
the angel announced God's plan Mary replied: “I am the handmaid of the Lord.
Let what you have said be done to me." She had followed it till
the last moment of her life. She had followed it in the joyful occasions of her
life. She had followed it in the dark moments of her life. She had
followed it at every step that she had taken. Her commitment was concretized
in her concern for her fellow beings. When she knew that Elizabeth
was in need of help, she went to serve her, and when she saw the people
were in trouble at Cana, she came to their aid.
Her
message is to take life with all its ups and downs. The challenges that we
face should not take away our joy and destroy our
creativity.
There
was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things
too quickly. So, he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a
pear tree that was a great distance away.
The
first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer,
and the youngest son in the fall. When they all came back, he called them
together to describe what they had seen.
The
first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said
it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son
disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked
so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son
disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full
of life and fulfilment.
The
man then said that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one
season in the tree's life. He told them that they cannot judge a tree, or a
person, by only one season. The essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy,
and love that come from life can only be measured at the end, when all the
seasons are up.
If
we give up when it's winter, we will miss the promise of the spring, the beauty
of the summer, and the
fulfilment of
life. So the pain of one season should not destroy the joy of
all the rest. Life should not be judged by one difficult season. We should
persevere through the difficult patches, and better times are sure to come
some.
When we are
best with the problems of life let’s remember the words of the Angel:
"Nothing is impossible for God," and Mary's response "'Here I
am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.'
Satish