Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

December 20, 2020 

Readings:

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

Psalm 89 “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Romans 16: 25-27

Gospel reading according to Luke 1: 26-38

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Homily:

When God the Father wants to send a message, he sends his angel.  But when he wants to send a big or great message he sends his Archangel.  The one who is sent has a message to announce, either good or not so good. A messenger with great news from the glorious and marvelous throne of God was dispatched and sent; it was the Archangel Gabriel, which means God is my strength, who was commissioned to announce the good news as God’s love to men and women.  The Archangel Gabriel is always standing at the divine presence of God and always ready to be sent to bring God’s messages to his chosen ones.  “The angel Gabriel was sent from God 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” (Luke 1: 26-27). The angel Gabriel was sent to a specific place, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.  “One view holds that "Nazareth" is derived from one of the Hebrew words for 'branch', namely ne·ṣer, ‏נֵ֫צֶר‎, and alludes to the prophetic, messianic words in Book of Isaiah 11:1, 'from Jesse's roots a Branch (netzer) will bear fruit'. Another view suggests this toponym might be an example of a tribal name used by resettling groups on their return from exile.  Alternatively, the name may derive from the verb na·ṣar, נָצַר, "watch, guard, keep," and understood either in the sense of "watchtower" or "guard place", implying the early town was perched on or near the brow of the hill, or, in the passive sense as 'preserved, protected' in reference to its secluded position” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth).  The angel Gabriel was sent to a specific person, to a young, most probably fourteen years of age, virgin, whose name was Mary, and betrothed, as if already married, to a man named Joseph of the house of David, a righteous man who respected the virginity of Mary.  The place and the person to receive the message were very clear and specific.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and greeted her with strange greetings never heard before and never used to any persons except to Mary.  “And coming to her, he said, Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1: 28). He came to Mary and greeted her as full of grace and the Lord God was with her.  It was a different greeting and it was fitted to Mary alone for she found favor with the Lord God.  Nobody has given that highest favor from the Lord except to Mary.  What does it mean, “full of grace,” and “the Lord is with you?”  “Grace is all the gifts of God, both natural and supernatural, which He provides to us because of His mercy.  Because of God’s decision to create a daughter who did not carry the guilt of Eve, Mary was born sinless.  The fact that the mother of our Lord Jesus [Mary] was conceived in her mother’s womb free from the stain of original sin, so that she would be full of grace and, 14 or 15 years later, God, who is totally pure and holy, could become a child in her womb.” (https://wordbytes.org/spiritual-growth/full-of-grace). “Before the Angel announce that Mary was chosen to be the "bearer of the Logos," [the Lord is with you] Mary already "bear the Logos in Her pure and immaculate heart" through her unceasing prayers. Jesus Christ’s presence already existed in the pure and immaculate heart of Mary as she persistently petitioned God to send the promised Messiah. As the scriptures speak of the faithful must have an expectant and trusting faith that God will answer all our prayers if it is in accord with His Will.  The Blessed Virgin Mary has a perfect faith that God will grant her prayers and her pure and humble heart always seek the Will of the Father” (https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/).

Mary became anxious and concerned about what was said, and considered and contemplated about the greetings of the angel to her. “But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be” (Luke 1: 29).  Mary as a simple young girl of 14 or 15 years old yet trained in the words of the Scriptures was not able to comprehend the meaning of the greetings and the revelation that God is with her.  So, just what does “the Lord is with you” mean? “From a global perspective, it means that God is at work within his creation. He is not the god of deism, a god who creates a universe and then leaves it to itself. Instead, God has a plan for his creation, and he is working it out.  It means that nothing that happens is apart from God’s ultimate purpose”(https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-does-it-mean-god-is-with-us.html).  God’s plan to Mary as a chosen vessel of his Son, to raise Him with love and total obedience to God the Father until the end of his life.

Immediately the angel told her not to be afraid. There is nothing to be afraid of, but, of joy and rejoicing.  He brought glad tidings from the Lord God.  The angel then announced to Mary, “Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He 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” (Luke 1: 30-33).  What an awesome, what great news! The angel Gabriel proclaimed that she will conceive a son in her womb and shall name him Jesus. The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua/Y'shua, which is based on the Semitic root y-š-ʕ (Hebrew: ישע‎), meaning "to deliver; to rescue." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_(name)).  The angel described what this child to be born is, what will happen to him and what he will become – that he will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; that he will be given him the throne of David; that he will rule over the house of Jacob; and that his Kingdom there will be no end.  What great responsibilities?

Mary despite her age was practical, sensible and realistic.  How can this happen to her where she was innocent and pure, she was a virgin, even though she was already betrothed to Joseph, he did not touch her.  “But Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” (Luke 1: 34).  Mary opened up to the angel her heart, her status in life.  She questioned the angel without any malice but a sincere and innocent question, “How can this be?”  She has a pure body, mind, soul and spirit. She is innocent.  She is a virgin.

Then the angel explained to her what will happen to her.  “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” (Luke 1: 35).  The Triune God, the Holy Spirit will come to her.  God the Father will overshadow her. And she will conceive the Son of God.  The Holy Trinity are present and active in that important moment.

The angel also announced to Mary the condition of her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant to John.  “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren, for nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1: 36-37).  Thus, there is no other reason to doubt the announcement of the angel to her.  If Elizabeth conceived a son at her old age and barren for many years, then it is possible for her to conceive a Son at her young age and in her physical condition (in her virginity), for nothing is impossible with God.

The company of angels in Heaven are silently waiting for the answer of Mary, even the demons in Hell are also waiting for Mary’s answer. Mary in her humility and simplicity accepted the invitation of God the Almighty announced to her by the angel to become the mother of the holy, the Son of God. “Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  Then the angel departed from her” (Luke 1: 38).  She said that what he announced and proclaimed may happen to her His handmaid.  With her acceptance and trust to God (her fiat), the angel Gabriel left her and went back to God to announce the full trust and willingness and free will of Mary with regards to the message of becoming mother of his Son.  And the whole company of the heavenly angels rejoiced and celebrated the great news; while in Hell, there were angry, grinding and gnashing of teeth, intense heat and sadness because of Mary’s acceptance. “May it be done to us according to God’s word and will.”