First Reading, A reading from the second book of Samuel 7;1-5.8-12.14.16

The Kingdom of David will always stand secure before the Lord

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, 'Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.' Nathan said to the king, 'Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.' But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

'Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus the Lord speaks: Are you theman to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Your house and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever."'

Second Reading, a reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans, Rom 16:25-27

The mystery, which was kept secret for endless ages, is now made clear

Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.

This is the word of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, 1:26-38

You will conceive and bear a son

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin bethrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.' She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you mus name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.' Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?' ' The Holy Spirit wil come upon you' the angel answered ' and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your knswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.' ' I am the handmaid of the Lord,' said Mary ' let what you have said be done to me.' And the angel left her.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

HOMILY

Genesis tells us we are made in the image of God, which means that our soul is made in God's image and, has been made to inherit eternal life, sharing and enjoying the Father the supreme and eternal goodness. We can go one step further, our bodies of flesh have a spiritual body as part of them, made in the image of Jesus, made to inherit eternal life and to be revealed on the last day.
Why is this going to happen? Genesis again gives the answer. Adam says of Eve, "this is love from my love and flesh from my flesh, she is my partner and helpmate."
God made us in his own image, so that we could be his partner and helpmate to be loved by him and for us to love him in return.
So the longing in our heart will only silenced and satisfied when we are o with our creator and partner, sharing and enjoying his company and love for enternity.