“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your
word.”
On this fourth Sunday
of Advent, we hear the familiar story of the Annunciation by the Angel
Gabriel. This message comes from an
angel, and its words are not only for Mary, but for each of us to whom the
angel speaks today through the Gospel.
St. Gabriel’s message tells us about a plan: a plan God has for Mary’s life, and a plan
that God has for the life of each one of us.
The purpose of this gospel passage is to show us how to accept in our
lives this plan that God has for us. The
way that the gospel shows us to accept this plan is to imitate the Blessed
Virgin Mary. We need to say “yes” to God’s
plan for us. Advent is that season when
we anticipate the coming of Christ. We cannot
come to savor the joy of Christmas without living out the humility of
Advent. Advent is a season of humble
expectation.
This year Advent
is particularly short and ends on the 4th Sunday. Christmas Eve begins with the Vigil Liturgy
at 4pm. I have many fond memories of
Christmas Eve dinner at my aunt’s house.
She made the traditional Italian seven fishes but always had something
for those of us who did not eat fish. I remember
the endless antipasto platters that were on the table and the linguini without clam
sauce that was part of the tradition. The
meal always concluded with pastries and a Yule Log.
May these days be
filled with anticipation, love and the profound “yes” of Mary. May we follow her example and proclaim, “May
it be done to me according to your word.”
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