Fourth Sunday of Advent: B: December 20, 2020

      ACCEPTING THE WILL OF GOD

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-6, 8-12 and 14-16

Second Reading : Romans 16: 25-27

Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26-28

   * First reading is from the second book of Prophet Samuel. God' reveals to Prophet Nathan His plan regarding King David and his dynasty. King David wanted to build a house for the Lord God and he consulted Prophet Nathan regarding his wish. That night the Lord God revealed His plan to Nathan that it will be the Lord God who will build a house for David forever. By sending His only Son Jesus to be born in David's lineage the Lord God fulfilled His promise to the King that his kingdom would be forever.

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community in Rome and us that God's plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles has come to fulfillment in Christ. It is up to us to proclaim that good news to all nations. 

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord."                                                                   Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The annunciation of the birth of the Lord Jesus is narrated in detail. The meeting of Mary and the Angel Gabriel is an illustration of the living faith of Mary. She gives her consent to become the mother of the redeemer though she hardly understood the significance and the depth of her 'Yes". Hence Mary became a special instrument in the hands of God. Mary has a unique role to play in the salvation history. But Mary was asked to put her freedom and her whole person at the service of the plan to God. The difference between Mary and us is not that Mary was chosen while we are not: rather it is that she fully consented to be chosen for her role while we remain hesitant and half-hearted in our responses to God.                                               Like Mary, God invites each one of us during this season of Advent and tells us 'Rejoice, highly favoured for I have chosen you to live a holy and loving life.'  Let us positively respond to this invitation of God as we  are preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus at Christmas. 

"Mary, full of Grace, conceived Jesus in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb. She was so attuned to the spiritual that the spiritual readily became physical within her." - St. Augustine.