Today’s readings invite us to look at where God chooses to dwell. David, in his palace, feels remiss that he has not provided a suitable palace for God, rather than the tattered and worn tent covering the Ark of the Covenant.

If you were going to send a Christmas card to God this year, where would you send it? We know the address of Santa Claus, the queen of England, the pope in Rome, and even a friend or two we haven’t seen since kindergarten. But the whereabouts of God are a little hazier.

God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary.

I walked into the second-grade parent meeting one November night, prepared to teach about the sacraments. As I looked around the roomful of parents, my eyes met those of Sarah. I nodded and touched my heart, amazed and grateful for her presence.

Our God is kind and faithful to us. We pray to show faithfulness to God and kindness to our neighbor.

Consider what a dignity is ours, and what a likeness there is between us and Mary. Mary conceived Christ in her womb, and we bear him about in our hearts.