December 2011

December 2011

Dearly beloved in Christ,

In December we all celebrate Christmas and have special studies and meditations on the birth of Jesus Christ and the holy family Mary and Joseph. Therefore, I thought of taking the text from 1Samuel Chapter 1:1-Chapter 4.

there are some similarities of the birth of Samuel, his mother Hannah, and her husband Elkana with the Holy Family. Samuel was born in Ramah, few miles North to Jerusalem. To Hannah, God was postponing her child bearing : but she remained steadfast in her faith and confidence for God's timing to bring fulfilment to her life. She never gave up hope. Hannah prayed. She brought her problem honestly before God.Everyone may have times of "barrenness". It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective. But as Hannah discovered, prayer opens the way for God to work. Hannah's promise to God was very powerful and meaningful. God took her up on her promise. Although my life problems at many many occasions hitted me hard that I prayed, promised and fulfilled my promise. Yes, prayed, promised and fulfilled!! Praise the Lord!! Never I felt unhappy when I look back of my faith life. It is dishonest to ignore a promise, especially to God. God keeps His promises, and He expects you to keep yours. Please read Judges 11:1-12:7 and study of Jephthah, especially verse 11:35 "...because I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break". St.Paul says that he was never disobedient to the heavenly vision.