December 20, 2020

4th Sunday of Advent (B)

 “When God Comes Knocking at the Door”

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio         

Advent presents us the great figures who form the bridge between the Old and New Testaments: Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and today our Blessed Lady. The Gospel takes us to Nazareth, to the scene of the Annunciation. At this decisive, singular event, the Archangel Gabriel greets Mary, as no one in all of history could be addressed: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Yet St. Luke tells us that Mary was troubled by such a greeting.

The word St. Luke uses for “troubled” is the Greek verb, dia-tarasso which implies an interior earthquake. This is not trouble caused by fear or dread, but trouble in the sense of amazement, of wonder, of awe. It is born of Mary’s humility, in which she ponders, “Why is this said of me? I am the least of his servants. I am not worthy.”

Gabriel reassures Mary not to be afraid for she has found favor with God. He goes on to convey the divine message that she would conceive and bear a son…Jesus…Son of the Most High…whose kingdom will never end. Mary had every right to ask for a detailed explanation of how God would carry out this bold and unique plan. But here is the miracle, the beauty and the greatness of the heart of Mary: St. Augustine said that Mary first conceived in her heart before she conceived the Word of God in her womb.” Not losing her presence of mind, she posed a tactful question: “How can this be since I have no relations with a man?”

A virgin, Mary does not ask from a desire to justify or defend herself, but from her desire to entrust herself totally to God’s plan. Gabriel puts Mary’s mind at rest and explains that this is the work of the Holy Spirit. As a sign, he refers to her elderly cousin Elizabeth who had conceived and was now in her sixth month. Nothing is impossible for God.

We might say that at the Annunciation, God knocked at the door of Mary’s freedom and sought her cooperation with his divine plan. “Never in human history did so much depend, as it did then, upon the consent of one human creature.” [St. John Paul II] Opening herself to God, Mary pronounces her “yes” without the slightest doubt or reservation: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” At that very moment, the Incarnation took place. Mary’s life was set on a new and unexpected road and she did not resist or try to avoid it.

What of our own lives? How do we react to the “Gabriels” of life, that is say, when God suddenly knocks on the door of our freedom to announce a change of plans? How do we respond when life takes an unexpected turn? Are we disappointed, confused or angry? Do we fret about how we will get through it; how we will manage?

The answer is the same as it was 2000 thousand years ago, for the daughter of the House of David, Mary of Nazareth—TRUST! Perhaps you can relate to this prayer:

Lord, God of the impossible, I so often want to be in control. I want to be the master of my own destiny. I am full of my own wishes, and expectations. Some of them may be realized, many may not. Yet you already know the best plan for my life and like Mary, I must trust you and see you at work in my life, especially when surprises, changes, and stresses come my way, help me to remember that I have nothing to fear, for when things are not going my way, I know that they are going your way. O Lord strengthen my trust. O Mary, Mother of Confidence, intercede for me and show me the path of life. Amen.