Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2020

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2020

Deacon Anthony J. Cincotta

Saint Mary Magdalen Parish, Media, PA

 

Second Book of Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a-16

Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29

Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

 

            Just think, in five short days we will join together to celebrate the coming of the Light of God into the world.  On Christmas Day we celebrate the coming of Jesus in the world.  Maybe more than any other time of the year, we feel God’s closeness to us and it seems to be easier to open our hearts to Him.  Today’s Gospel narrative present Mary and her initiation to the first Christmas.  Seeing her faith during the Annunciation, this helps us to prepare properly for Christmas Day.  Having said that, let us pay close attention to what happened in the conversation between Mary and the angel Gabriel:

Mary listens: The angel announces that the Messiah will be born in her and she listens.  Her greatness comes through her faithful listening.   Mary listens, asks for clarification and finally accepts to be the servant of the Lord. 

Mary accepts: Mary is deeply disturbed even by the initial greeting of the angel.  However, Gabriel showers her with assurances that everything will be alright; “Do not be afraid…The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence the holy offspring to be born will be called Son of God.”  These words of assurance eventually brought Mary to turn her negative emotion to a humble word of acceptance.

Mary believes: Her faith was humble and was bolstered even further as the angel comforts her with, “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 obeys:  Her obedience is what we would describe as “risk taking” as she decides to obey and tells the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Her obedience is manifested due to her infinite trust in God.  Most importantly Mary continued to say “yes” throughout her life on earth.

            Mary is mother of Christ in two senses.  First, she is His mother in the physical sense that she carried Jesus in her womb and gave birth to Him.  This is an unrepeatable event and an honor that no other human being could share with her.  Secondly, she is also mother of Christ in a spiritual sense.  That is the spiritual sense that the role of being the mother of Christ is available to all Christians.  Men, women and children can and should become spiritual mothers and brothers of Christ.  How do we do this?  Simple, we must listen, accept, believe and obey.

Question of the Day:  Will you pray to Mary, our mother, for her intercession to become closer to her Son, our Lord Jesus?

Prayer:  Please pray The Canticle of Mary, The Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55.

Prosit