IV Sunday-Advent:[B]:IISam7:1-5,8-12,14-16;Rom16:25-27;Lk1:26-38

IV Sunday-Advent:[B]:IISam7:1-5,8-12,14-16;Rom16:25-27;Lk1:26-38

Introduction: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." (Lk 1:28) For nearly two millennia Catholics, and other Christians, have committed to memory these words of the angel Gabriel, "Ave Maria, gratia plena", as they pore devotedly over the sacred scriptures. The angelic salutation, now incorporated into the prayer of the Hail Mary, is sent up to heaven millions of times each day from every corner of the globe. Our frequent repetition of these words makes a sense of awe for the fantastic event which they announced: the incarnation of God.  Today is the 4th and the last Sunday of Advent before Christmas and we are in the immediate preparations for Christmas. 

Exegesis: The Scripture Readings of today speak about the preparations that God made for his Son to be born among us and as one of us. In the First Reading from the 2^nd Book of Samuel, King David wishes to build a house for God better than his own. He seeks some way to give thanks to God for all the blessing he received from him. But God has not finished filling his life with blessings. In the Second Reading from his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul speaks about the mystery of salvation about to be revealed and marvels at the divine plan and gives glory to God. In the Gospel Reading from St. Luke, we have the familiar passage of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel tells Mary that she has found favor with God and announces the divine identity of the child whom Mary is about to conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Event: There is a Persian legend.  A certain king needed a faithful servant, and two men were candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages, and his first order was to fill a basket with water from a neighboring well.  And the King said that he would come in the evening and see their work. After putting in one or two bucketfuls, one man said, “What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as we put the water in one side it runs out the other.” The other answered, “But we have our wages, haven't we? The use is the master's business, not ours.” “I am not going to do such fool's work,” replied the other. Throwing down his bucket, he went away. The other man continued until he had exhausted. Looking down to the well he saw something shining—a diamond ring. “Now I see the use of pouring water into a basket,” he cried. “If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was emptied, it would have been found in the basket. Our work was not useless.” Christians must believe that their divine Master knows what is best, and obey his commands, and in due time they will know and understand.

Practical Applications: We need to say a courageous and generous “Yes” to God as Mary did.  True obedience comes from a free choice made in the light of what is true and good. It often requires a great deal of courage, because it can involve going against the tide of social expectations. True obedience also aims at putting oneself at the service of something/Someone that is greater than oneself by accepting what God clearly wants us to do or what He wants to do through us. Jesus' own moment of greatness, like his Mother’s, came when he said “Yes,” to his Father, and Jesus' own obedience is our model. Will we surrender to God and allow God to do what, from our human point of view, seems impossible?  Will we surrender our agenda, our will and our kingdom to God and allow God’s agenda, will and Kingdom become a reality for and through us?  It is by saying, with Jesus and Mary, a  wholehearted  and  totally  unconditional  “Yes,”  to  God  that Jesus will be re-born in me or maybe even born in me for the first time. By my saying “yes,” Jesus will be born or reborn in others too.

Fourth Sunday in Advent: Introduction

Message: David’s posterity shall endure forever.  His kingship finds its fulfillment in the son of Mary, Jesus the Christ.  To him be glory and praise forever.

Saints and Events in this Week: 23 – Twenty Third – Tuesday – Saint John of Kanty, Priest; 24 – Twenty Fourth – Wednesday - Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord; 25 – Twenty Fifth – Thursday – The nativity of the Lord – Christmas – Holy day of obligation; 26 – Twenty Sixth – Friday – Saint Stephen, the first martyr; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Saturday – Saint John, Apostle, Evangelist;