Sunday 24th of December 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16/ Psalm 88(89)/ Romans 16:25-27/ Luke 1:26-38

What is it to be a Christian especially in this time often referred to as the ‘post Christian age’? We need look no further than to Mary who is the first Christian. She not only received the word of God, but she activated it in her life. Mary fully cooperated with God in his plan to address the failure of humanity from the beginning. The first humans, as we all do, had a choice, and said ‘no’ to God thereby bringing death to humanity. Humanity has continued to say ‘no’ to God or, at least, failed to fully cooperate with God’s plan for each person preferring to go its own way to a greater or lesser extent. Mary shows us the way to say ‘yes’ to God without reservation. In saying yes and cooperating with God’s plan for us God will accomplish great things culminating in the redemption of humanity. As believers in who Jesus is we become followers of Christ, Christians. Our allegiance is first to Christ and the activation of his Father’s will for us in our lives and in society. We must start with ourselves if there is to be any hope of spreading God’s message to a cold and disbelieving world.

Mary, although puzzled by the message from Gabriel, gave her unqualified ‘yes’ to God’s will for her. This moment, recounted in the gospel today, is the pivotal point in human history. It is the point in which a fallen humanity is reconciled with God through the actions of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit working together through the cooperation of Mary. The words of the Anthem to Our Lady, Alma Redemptóris Mater, ‘Mother of him who thee from nothing made’, sets our minds boggling at the thought of God condescending to become human through the womb of one of his own creations.

We must follow the example of Mary and submit totally to God’s will. It is not us that builds a house for God but God who builds the house as he did for David in the first reading. The house that God builds is his kingdom, a kingdom that has no end and will stand for ever. In this last part of Advent, we are encouraged by the second reading to consider how Jesus is revealed as God and Man. Not just a Christmas gift to the Jews but a gift to all humanity down the ages. What we are about to celebrate is not just the birth of a baby many years ago in Bethlehem but the accomplishment of God’s saving plan to overcome our sin.

Jesus is established as descending from David to fulfil the hope of Israel portrayed in the first reading. This was not through a blood line but rather because Joseph, who was of David’s line, adopted the child that his betrothed was found to be carrying before they had come to live together as man and wife. This gave Jesus the legal lineage required of the promised messiah. Joseph also displayed cooperation with God’s plan of salvation when it might be expected that, under the circumstances, he might have abandoned Mary to her fate. An indication of Joseph’s compassionate nature may be gleaned from the fact that he had decided to divorce Mary informally, without causing any fuss, before he was encouraged to take her as his wife.

Gabriel is the herald proclaiming the imminent coming of the promised messiah presenting Jesus as Son of God. In the conversation between Mary and the Angel we glimpse the truths of our faith. Jesus is of the line of David; he fulfils the promise made a thousand years earlier. God establishes through Jesus his son, a dynasty, a sovereignty, that will last forever. Mary fulfils God’s plan for the redemption of humanity through her willing cooperation.

Mary is honoured in so many ways and it is right that she should be. Because of her ‘yes’ to God she became the Mother of God but even as so highly favoured Mary gives all glory and honour to God, pointing always to her son Jesus. Mary is forever called blessed because of her humble submission to God’s will for her permitting God to achieve his redemption of humanity through her cooperation. We must strive to emulate Mary, receiving the Word of God and activating it within us so that Jesus lives and works in us and through us. We cannot be Christians by merely believing in Jesus we must also bring this belief to life in ourselves so that God becomes active in us and through us. We must also give an unreserved ‘yes’ to God’s plan for us.

God Bless Brendan.