It is 24th December 2018. The readings are from 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; and the Gospel from Luke 1:67-79. A few steps away from the manger of the Lord. It is the day for the Lord and Lord’s people. We need not just immerse only in decorating and being busy shopping but we need to make an effort to step into a church or a place by ourselves with the Lord before celebrating the Christmas Eve. Our salvation is sealed in the incarnation of Jesus. The birth of Jesus shuts the dominations and dispensations of the evil-doors and allows us to enjoy the liberation of our souls and life. Time has come to sing for Jesus. Let us come closer to the manger where we would meet our Mother Mary and Joseph with the Only Son of God, the Creator of the universe to thank Him for coming in our us. It is time to rejoice in the birth of our Lord that brought our personal salvation and the healing to the bruised humanity. As we rejoice and make merry in this eve, let us not forget the poor, the elderly, the sick, the orphans and those who lost homes, families and lands stripped of human dignity because of reasons beyond our control. It is time to rejoice with the Lord Jesus. The first reading teaches us that God wants not to live in temple made of stone but in our hearts, the temple of the Holy Spirit. We must be grateful that God has made our hearts as the temples and tabernacles of the living God. It is the call to holiness. We all need to build and bleach our muddied temples by our own selfish and sinful choices. As long as we are open for discussion and dialogue with God, there is a way out with the Lord. When we have leaned on someone other than God, we are gradually giving in to destruction of the temple. God took our nature not to dominate us but to let us go free and be protected and live in holiness and in grace all through our lives. In our first reading, we are given a promise from the Lord that God wants to build something that lasts for ever through God’s Son Jesus Christ. “The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House.” (2 Sam.7:9). The throne of David is give to Jesus for the rest of the generations to revere Him and follow Him. “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Sam.7:16). The responsorial Psalm praises, “I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.” (Ps.88:2). The Gospel strengthens the prophecy of Nathan to David by the poem sang by Zechariah. It is the song of joy which we recite in daily Divine Office. The father of John the Baptist thanked God for God’s fidelity in honouring God’s promise of giving us the Messiah. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.” (Lk.1:67). It is going to be a new beginning for all of us just like that of Zachariah. It is a new freedom and liberation to serve God in holiness and virtue; spirit and integrity. May the Christmas renew our spirit and invigorate our faith in the New Born Babe of Bethlehem. Let us all be there to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour with thankful heart and enriched faith and joy of Christmas. No matter what is going on in our lives, we all who believe in Jesus has one reason to celebrate that We have a Saviour and Lord in the human form to tangibly to experience God in fullness through Holy Child of Mary and Joseph, the Son of God. May you all have a blessed Christmas Eve filled with the long-awaited blessings of the Christmas. May you have a good day. God bless you.