Mary’s “Yes…” Again
“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.”Luke 1:38
Blessed Fourth Sunday of Advent to you! Yes, it is December 24th, but it is not Christmas quite yet, at least not until the Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve Mass). It is still Advent, and we must keep preparing our hearts to welcome Our Lord. This Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Church reads the account of the Annunciation…again.
We have heard the account of the Annunciation several times already this Advent season, but it is not because we do not have other readings upon which we can meditate and reflect. Advent is a time when we prepare our hearts to say “yes” to Jesus once again and welcome Him into our hearts, and so it is quite fitting that we hear the Annunciation narrative a few times during Advent, where we hear Mary saying “yes” to God.
The Angel Gabriel went to Nazareth to deliver a message to Mary, a message that would change not only her life, but the life of all humanity. Mary was but a young woman going about the daily chores of a Jewish girl when the Angel greeted her “Hail, full of grace!” and assured her that the Lord was with her. God comes to meet us in the ordinariness of our daily lives — Our God is a God who chooses to draw close to us in a manner that we are familiar.
Mary is told that she would bear the Son of God in a time when an unmarried pregnant woman was subject to being stoned to death. So, why did God do that? Why did God allow Mary to be put in such a situation? Because He had a plan to show that nothing is impossible for Him, that in what seems like a hopeless, losing situation, God can bring life, and life that would save all of humanity. But this needed Mary’s — and Joseph’s — cooperation. Mary and Joseph were asked to play such important roles in salvation history, and despite the uncertain and dangerous circumstances that their cooperation would place them in, they said “yes.” Not because they were forced or if they were to say no they would be struck down, but because they had faith. They believed that God’s word is true and that if God asked this of them, He would surely walk with them, and bring all things to fruition and completion.
We too, brothers and sisters, have been called by God. This Advent, the Lord asks us “Am I welcome in your heart?” How do we respond? Despite the possibility of being judged, ridiculed, and criticized by the world if we openly say “yes” to God, are we still willing to say “yes?” Will the fear of being stoned by the world or being excluded or disliked move our hearts to question our “yes” or even cause us to shy away from our faith? If so, remember what the Angel said to Mary and to Joseph, “Do not be afraid” for the Lord is with us. If He has asked us of it and has brought us to it, He will most certainly bring us through it. So, in these remaining hours of Advent, will we say “yes” to God once again?
Click here to watch/listen to my reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
