Friday, December 20, 2002
3rd Week of Advent
1st Reading: Is 7:10-14
Gospel: Lk 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible."
Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.
Commentary
To be faced, so suddenly, with an angel bursting for joy, leaves Mary disturbed and frightened. But the reality won't go away: she is highly favored and God is with her; her son will be the successor of King David, who will reign forever; the Spirit of God is the initiator of this new life in her womb; the child's name will be Jesus, the liberating presence of God. Mary doesn't waste any time pleading unworthiness. Nobody is worthy of anything God gives us. Life itself is pure gift. Knowing this is the secret of Mary's joy. God is able to move freely in her, for she has no illusions. Being the mother of the messiah is a cause for her to rejoice in God, not in herself. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.