HOMILY: Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:26-38
December 24, 2023
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
Every Fourth Sunday of Advent is usually dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, we read once again the account of the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus and we are made to ponder on how she has been prepared for a special role in God’s plan of salvation.
It is important to note that “special plan” in God’s terms hardly means hitting the jackpot, or winning in the lotto, or being awarded an all-expense paid tour throughout Europe. It usually involves something unusual and difficult, requiring much sacrifice. The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt took 7 plagues, walking across the parted red sea and 40 years of wandering through the dessert. Our salvation story begins with a young girl of 14 to whom an angel of the Lord appeared with a message that greatly disturbs her.
Even in Mary’s time, it was a rare phenomenon to be visited by an angel. If your son or grandson suddenly sneaks up on you while you are concentrating on preparing meals in the kitchen, wouldn’t you be startled? Imagine seeing a blinding light, a winged being or a stranger in human form suddenly appearing before this young girl while she was alone in a room. That must have been a real fright for her. The gospel tells us that the experience causes Mary to be “greatly troubled”. (Luke 1:29) However, the presence must have been calming and the voice of the angel soothing because she does not run away.
When the angel speaks his greeting must have puzzled her as well. “Hail, full of grace!” (Luke 1:28) — must have shocked Mary. We have to understand that the salutation “Hail” doesn’t simply mean “hello”. In fact, it was only used in one particular context, that is to acknowledge a highly-placed superior. We recall that this greeting was used for the emperor. “Hail, Caesar!” This would have been the common usage in Mary’s time. Imagine yourself doing your usual every day chores in your house clothes and all of a sudden somebody addresses you as… “Good afternoon your highness!” To have a superior being such as the archangel as the source of such salutation is indeed troubling for a teenager in a rural, conservatively religious, middle-eastern community setting.
Then the clincher, the angel says she will bear the son of the Most High. Mary is so disturbed by this because although she is already betrothed to Joseph, they were not yet married and have not had intimate relations as husband and wife. She must have wondered how she could become pregnant in the normal course of events. Mary asks, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34) She does not doubt. She does not ask for proof, just a little clarification since a virgin birth is unheard of and impossible even today.
The story of Mary is another instance of how the Lord works in mysterious ways and how His plans do not necessarily make sense to human understanding. This tells us that when we pray for something and things don’t go our way, we have to trust that God has other plans for us and His plan always places us in a better position. Even though all we see is difficulty before us, we have to trust that God sees farther ahead and He knows what good awaits us if we only stick to the course.
The gospel account also tells us that God does not leave us alone to bear with all the uncertainty and hardship that His plan entails. The angel explains to her that “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” (Luke 1:35) For us who are children of the Pentecost, we know that the presence of the Holy Spirit is the presence of God. To receive the Holy Spirit is to have God with us. This must not have made sense to Mary though. What is the Holy Spirit? What did He look like? How would she know that He had already come upon her?
Without seeking further certitude, Mary readily assents to the message of the angel. “I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your Word.” Her faith in God’s goodness was enough to give her the courage to say “YES” to the plan. As the angel leaves, we assume the Holy Spirit descends upon her signifying the moment that Jesus has life in her womb.
Our life today is filled with many uncertainties and our life doesn’t always go as we plan. However, we must look to Mary as a model of faith, obedience and submission to God’s will, especially when God’s will does not make sense to us. Let us pray that God will increase our faith and give us the strength to persevere on the path He has laid for us. May we echo Mary’s Fiat at all times, in every circumstance of our lives.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 