Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Advent is almost over, which means Christmas is almost here! On the fourth Sunday of Advent, this is particularly evident as the focus of our journey shifts from general anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, to the very specific anticipation of Jesus’ birth. This year, the Gospel lesson for the last Sunday of Advent is Luke 1:26-38. This passage is the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that she will bear the Son of God. Naturally, she is perplexed, even skeptical; maybe even a little fearful. Gabriel does not force her to take on this mission. Nor does God. Instead, Gabriel proceeds to assure her that she has indeed been chosen by God and tells her what her son, God’s Son, will accomplish, if she just says “yes.” And she does. Her response is a heartfelt one. Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. In those simple words, her life is changed. In those words, the world is changed. With those words, the salvation of humanity made possible through Jesus, is secured. Because a simple peasant girl from Galilee took a chance, overcame her fears, and said “yes” to God. Mary’s “yes” to God became God’s “yes” to humanity. The Advent season is a time for us to prepare for the birth of our Lord, not only in Bethlehem but also in our lives. It is a time when we are given the opportunity to take a critical look at our lives and our relationship with God. What in our lives have kept us from fully embracing our God and letting him into our lives? What perplexities, what skepticisms, what fears? Advent is the time to take a risk, as Mary did, and say “yes” to letting God more fully into our lives.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:46:11 +0000
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