4th Sunday of Advent (B) : 20th December 2020

Often people try to do favours for God without asking if God wants them. David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but God said that he had no need of a house to dwell in. Besides, David had too much blood on his hands to be building the temple.

Instead, God gave a gift to David — he established his descendants and his throne forever. Rather than trying to do things for God that God does not need or want, it is far better to allow God to work in and through us.

Allow God to use us without consulting us. That is the best temple we could ever hope to build for God  the temple of the mind and heart.

Mary did this at the Annunciation — she allowed herself to become the temple of God. Even though she did not understand everything that was happening, it was enough for her to know that it was God’s will. That is all she needed to know — she gave herself completely and freely.

Although we may not be called to this degree of self-giving, every time we step away from our ego and needs for the sake of God and the good of others, we become God’s dwelling place. Let us each day become God’s temple.

Lord, dwell in my heart and mind.