Third Sunday of Advent
Theme: Solomon
Symbol: The Temple
Prayer of Ven. Bruno Lanteri
Almighty and Eternal God, I (name), although most unworthy, but encouraged by your compassion and infinite mercy, and by the desire of serving you, offer before the Most Holy Virgin Mary and all the Court of Heaven, to your Divine Majesty, this day, and all my thoughts, words and actions in it. I humbly beg of your infinite goodness and mercy, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, that you choose to accept this offering in the odor of sweetness, and that as you have given me the grace to desire and to make this offering, so also you grant me the grace to fulfill it. Amen.
O Virgin immaculately conceived, put into my heart those things of your Son most pleasing to him. Amen.
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:17-18
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.’
Reflection: Though it would be Solomon who would build the Temple to God, it was first in the heart of David to do so. The Temple is the place of sacrifice, the place where God and his people come close and exchange gifts of intimacy and fidelity. The true Temple is always the heart. It is in a heart filled with the Holy Spirit, following Jesus, that true sacrifice is made to God. The true sacrifice is your self, your destiny, your plans. Share them with God. Let the doors of your temple open for God that he may have room in your heart to share his designs for all he wishes to build within you.