Happy Birthday.

Gospel of Luke 1: 57-66,80.

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Before I was born, my parents had been longing for a son, maybe because my parents were affected by the male chauvinism mentality. Then my birth brought so much joy to them. My parents cared for me so well, educated me, and hoped I would have a happy and wonderful life. To make sure of the foreseeable future, my parents usually asked me "Who I would like to become in the future?" or "What job do I want to achieve?" since I was in a secondary state. My answer to that question always was "nautical lawyer". However, events & stories happened and changed my first direction then. 

In Today's Gospel (we have heard), Probably there is a similar story to my story. Zechariah and Elizabeth might have their own will about the child John but Intervention came and we have another story. People have heard this story, said "What, then, will this child be?", "What person would he become?". 

I suppose that all of us can relate to this. Our mother, parents have envisioned a future for us but the important is not that dream but a vocation, a way, a mission that God has prepared for each one of us. Probably, this way is the way which we are following. I am happy for my birthday celebration to happen on the same day as John the Baptist so that there is someone I can relate with. Firstly, before preaching publicly, he preached in the desert place, in the desert place this is no people. so my first point for reflection is that "he preached for himself". First and foremost, preach for my own self!. therefore, before every sharing at mass, I always pray "Lord, open my lips and my heart". My sharing is firstly addressed to myself. 

The second is intervention. Since I have the desire to dedicate my life, there were countless events had happened. The beggar stirred up the desire for religious life within me, my ex-girlfriend, crises, struggle with study, God's absent moments, doubted, happy, excitement, lost the truck, undergoing formation, discovering my disorder attachments, recognizing my giftedness, realizing my impure motivation, the process of purifying myself, etc. All of them considered interventions. 

    Admittedly, there were times I did not recognize God in those events, or I did not accept his will for it is opposite to my plan or reverse my will, my life. But in the end, I considered all these moments were miracles. 

As I go along my journey, I will keep in mine, and recite the word that Mary has proclaimed "The Lord has done great things for me and Holy is his name". And the important is not God does more miracles in life but the eyes that opens to see the miracles in my life.

May God fortify/strengthen my faith so that I can truly see his interventions in my life. 

What will this child be? For sure the hand of the Lord was with him. 

The hand of the Lord

The hand of the Lord

The hand of the Lord...... is the interventions in my life. Amen

Joseph Nguyễn Lê Thế Vương, MSC.