23rd December. Tuesday of the 4th Week of Advent

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First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14

(King Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign; but God promises the birth of Immanuel)

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

(The Annunciation to the virgin Mary.)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel as sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

What more can I give you?

There are so many stories told about the Infant Jesus. One of my favorites is a pious legend involving Saint Jerome, the great Bible scholar who lived the second half of his life near to the manger of Bethlehem. It tells how one Christmas night, right in the very cave at Bethlehem where Jesus was born, the old monk Jerome was praying and thinking about the mystery of Christmas, when suddenly our Lord appeared to him as an infant, surrounded by a dazzling light. “Dear and faithful Jerome,” the Infant asked, “what are you going to give me for my birthday?” ‘Divine Infant,” replied the saint, “I give you my heart.” “Ah, yes, but you can give me something more.” “But Lord,” said Jerome, “I give you all that I am.” “There is still something more that I want,” said the Infant. “But Lord, I have nothing more to give. What more is there that I can give you?” “Ah my dear Jerome, gives me your sins. Give me your sins that I may forgive them all.” “O divine Child,” exclaimed the saint, “You make me weep.” And the saintly man, filled with love of the Lord, wept for joy. What does the story tell us? Very simply, we can please the Infant Jesus by giving Him our sins through contrition, that we may prepare a clean and fresh heart for his coming in the holy feast of Christmas.

Today’s gospel about the annunciation tells of the first moment of Jesus in our world, in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In that joyful moment the Word of God is made flesh and becomes one of us in all things except sin. And so what is our gift to Him during His birthday celebration except the sins He wants to forgive? I’m sure He will be most happy if we give these gifts that money cannot buy and that we will be glad to give away!

***

A costly Yes to God

The gospel records the moment when Mary said “yes” to God’s call to be the mother of God’s Son. It suggests that her “yes” did not come without a struggle. When God first spoke to her through the angel Gabriel, Mary was “deeply disturbed.” When God’s purpose for Mary’s life was announced, she was full of questions, “How can this be?” It was only when Gabriel spoke a third time that Mary surrendered to what God was asking her to be and to do, “Let what you have said be done to me.” The gospel suggests Mary’s “yes” to God’s call did not come effortlessly; it was not a foregone conclusion. Yet, because of her “yes” we have all been greatly blessed, and, so, today, on the feast of her annunciation, we give thanks for her generous response to God’s call, which has been a source of grace for us all. The portrayal of Mary in today’s gospel suggests that our own response to the Lord’s call will never be easy; it will always involve something of a struggle. The reading also suggests that, as in the case of Mary, our saying “yes” to the Lord will be a source of blessing for others. My relationship with the Lord may be personal, but it is never private. It always has consequences for others. When I am generous in my response to the Lord’s call, as Mary was, others are helped to come to the Lord. Mary has been described as the first and the model disciple of the Lord; we look to her to inspire us as we seek to take to Lord’s call to heart; we ask her to pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

 

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