Fourth Sunday of Advent

Oh, my goodness! This Fourth Sunday of Advent means that Christmas is just five days away! I’m excited! How about you! It’s always such a joy to see the children and our families and friends with big smiles and a twinkle in their eyes as they tear open their gifts. On this last Sunday before Christmas, we pause to remember that what we celebrate is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And given this very odd year 2020, I think we are in great need of Jesus Christ!

You know, these days, we hear about all sorts of things like fake news, election fraud, suspicion about pandemic lockdowns, and the vaccine. It’s so confusing and frankly so disappointing that we can’t trust any one news source for the news. Instead, many of us need to consume a variety of news sources just to see a glimmer of the truth.

There’s also been so much division this year. I think we all yearn for peace, for justice, for security. It doesn’t matter whose right or wrong. We all yearn for the truth, whatever that looks like! My brothers and sisters, Jesus is the fulfillment of our yearnings! <1> And it all begins with Mary’s yes.

You see, in today’s Gospel, Mary isn’t told that she will give birth, but rather, the angel waits for her consent. Why? God never forces himself on anyone. Mary consents, and in doing so, she lets go of her all her plans. She sets aside any fear of becoming pregnant before her marriage. None of these are deal-breakers for her because her love for God is so deep. Her fiat – her yes – is an example for us all.

Sometimes we cling to the things we accumulate or the ideas we develop that we can’t see past the edge of our noses. Like our first reading says, we have a fixed place in this land of ours. How blessed we are! But sometimes, our blessings – the stuff of our lives can get in our way.

As the elections point out, sometimes it seems impossible to agree. Maybe it’s our pride or our hubris, but we can’t seem to reconcile with one another. Oh sure – going to confession is easy. But forgiving someone who has a different opinion than us – forget about it!

But Mary gives us a clue. Mary’s yes acknowledges the truth that “Jesus offers reconciliation and the chance to live once more in peace with God and our neighbor.” <2>

Jesus saves the day! He is our salvation! And so, we hear from Paul’s letter to the Romans a statement of praise to God! Right? It’s the response to our psalm today: Forever will I sing the goodness of the Lord! We can’t save ourselves, and nothing we build can save us. No! Only the Word made flesh whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas can save us, and Jesus is worthy of our praise!

Believing in Jesus means believing in something beyond us and much, much bigger than us! Are we willing to put our trust in Jesus and find common ground with our neighbors? That’s an important question for us to consider. You see, following Mary’s example, our job as disciples is to bring other people to Jesus Christ. It’s not enough for us to be reconciled with God. We need to be reconciled with our neighbors and lead them to Jesus.

As we consider Mary’s example in these days before Christmas, we consider a great challenge. That leads us to homework! Nourished by the Word and the Sacraments, I ask you to reflect on the following questions.

First, what attachments or stuff or ideas get in our way of embracing Jesus?
Second, what are some ways I can help bring people to Jesus?

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. JPG file.

Notes: <1> “Mass Reading & Meditation for December 20, 2020,” Word Among Us (Advent 2020) https://wau.org/meditations/2020/12/20/177608/ (accessed 7 December 2020). <2> Ibid.

Bibliography:
1. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
2. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
3. “Mass Reading & Meditation for December 20, 2020.” Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2020/12/20/177608/ (accessed 7 December 2020).

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Mary and Old Testament women: 64, 489
2. Obedience of faith: 143-49, 494, 2087
3. Mary’s faith and fiat: 148, 494, 973, 2617, 2622, 2674
4. Nothing impossible with God: 269, 273
5. The name “Jesus:” 430, 2812
6. Jesus is the Son of David: 439, 496, 559, 2616
7. Ecumenical councils on the incarnation: 456, 464-67
8. Virginal conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit: 484-94, 496-97, 505, 510, 695, 697, 723
9. Immaculate Conception: 490-91, 722
10. Prayer of praise: 2639, 2649
11. Doxology: 2641
12. Hail Mary: 2676-77

Fourth Sunday of Advent https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122020.cfm
Lectionary: 11

Reading 1
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?’“

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Responsorial
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2
Romans 16:25-27
Brothers and sisters:
To him who can strengthen you,
according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Alleluia
Luke 1:38
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38
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.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
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.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
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.
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.”
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.

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