SUNDAY, DEC 24
Luke 1: 26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Grace: I ask for the grace to know Jesus in a deeper way that I may abundantly love and follow him.
On this night, the world awaits her savior. Yet not in a quiet, still way, but in thousand frenetic and even thoughtless ways. We fill this day with the myriad details the world has placed upon this season. You might be cooking, shopping, wrapping gifts, welcoming family and friends to your home, or traveling to others. We have filled this day with obligations, which though joyful, nonetheless obscure the remarkable event to which this Gospel gives us witness.
As you sit in prayer with this Scripture, you can feel Mary’s confusion as a young girl, the words “greatly troubled” are understandable. Then the angel says, “Nothing will be impossible for God” and something happens. A different sense emerges. There is a change which doesn’t show on the page. A new world is created in that space between the angel’s assurance and Mary’s Fiat. The space between is filled with waiting. It is this space which beckons, welcoming not only Mary but also you. The angel waited for Mary’s answer to an invitation unlike any the world has ever seen. You as her child and the disciple of her son, are joined in that moment for all time. Your yes, the yes of your life, extends and relives this moment. You see, Advent is a time of waiting, but not just for us waiting for the birth of the Lord. Advent shows us God is always waiting for our answer. He’s always there, waiting for us. Perhaps that’s the hidden message of this Gospel, unique for each one of us, even in its universal truth. God chose to use it to welcome you into his kingdom by sending down his only begotten son. Use it to welcome God into your life today and every day.
Be as Mary, our perfect example of discipleship and say, “Here am I, Lord.” Give your Fiat on this night when we await the arrival which changed the world. Desire and choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in you, to paraphrase Daniel Fleming, S.J. Start today. Your King has come. He awaits your answer.
For Reflection and Prayer:
How will you welcome the Son of the Most High into your life as the world welcomes him into humanity?
Mary’s response was “May it be done to me according to your word.” In your own words, give Jesus your response to his invitation.
You may wish to close out your prayer time by spending some moments before this image:
George Lawrence Bulleid
The Contributor:
Laura is a wife, mother, and “Honey” to her grandchildren. She practices health care law. At Our Lady of Grace parish, she is involved in Pastoral Council and many parish organizations. She is completing the Spiritual Director Formation Program at St. Peter Upon The Water. Laura completed the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life in 2015.
“Praying the Spiritual Exercises plunged my faith life into a deeply intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, my transformed heart now desires to share the light of Christ with others.”
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Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.