Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

December 24, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – 2 Samuel 7:1-5; 8b-12, 14a, 16

Psalm 89

Second Reading – Romans 16:25-27

Gospel reading according to Luke 1:26-38

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Homily: Mary said: Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord!

God, from the beginning of time, was looking for the right Mother of his Son, from Eve until Elizabeth, but that searching was fulfilled to a fifteen year old girl from Nazareth of Galilee, whose name was Mary.  God knew Mary very well, but still He respected her right.  So, when the fullness of time arrived, He sent his angel Gabriel to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, “to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary”(Lk. 1:26-27).  The angel Gabriel cannot be mistaken; he should know exactly who he was looking for and the exact location of her place, and who she was.  The name of that girl is clearly uttered and pronounced from the mouth of God the Father, “Mary.”  As if God was saying to the angel Gabriel, “Look for Mary!”  And the angel Gabriel found her praying.  She was praying for the coming of the long awaited Mother of the Son of God, that she may come soon so that the prophesy be fulfilled and the love of God be experienced now by all.  “And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you’.”(Lk. 1:28).  His greetings indicated the condition of Mary in the eyes of God the Father for she was the chosen Mother of the Son, who is also God.  Mary, before the world began, is filled with grace.  Despite so long a time, God the Father waited for the coming of Mary, conceived and born immaculate, for His Son.  That’s why she was full of grace at the same time the Lord is with her.  In the mind of God, she already existed, and He was with her long, long time ago.  But, Mary, in her younger age, “was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be” (Lk. 1:29).  She did not expect that the Mother of God she prayed and longed for was none other than she.  “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Lk. 1:30). 

There is no woman in the world, from time immemorial, that fitted to become the Mother of God except Mary.  “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Lk. 1:31).  She is the one to conceive and bear the Son of God, whose name announced and revealed by the angel Gabriel as Jesus.  Jesus as Son of God the Father “will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. . . . The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk. 1:32-33, 35).  This is what the Son to be conceived and born by Mary to be.  

Everything now is clear to Mary.  The plan of God long time ago is fulfilled in her.  The Son of God will become her Son, whom she will name Jesus.  But still there is one question playing in her mind.  She is still a virgin, that’s why she asked the angel. “But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with a man’?”(Lk. 1:34). This shows that Mary was still innocent and virgin.   As for Joseph, he was a righteous man, he protected the virginal promises of Mary and he did not touch her, even though she was already betrothed to him, as if they were already married.  “And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).  This is the greatest revelation coming from an angel.  How Mary will conceive and bear the Son of God in her womb?  The Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit who comes upon her, the Most High God the Father who overshadow her, and the holy Child to be conceived and born by her, are working the miracle of Incarnation, through the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Trinity is all present in that annunciation of the birth of the Son of Man (Mary) and His conception, for nothing is impossible for God (cf. Lkk.1:37).  And Mary said to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38). And the angel Gabriel went back to God in heaven and announced the acceptance of Mary to become the Mother of his Son.  God and the whole company of angels in heaven rejoice, for He was not mistaken when He chose Mary at the very beginning of time to become the vessel/womb of his Only Begotten Son.  Now we can truly say that there is no impossible for God.  Now is the time of rejoicing for the Son of God is born in our midst.  And He will live, rule and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

Merry Christmas!!!