TUESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT, DECEMBER 20, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

REFLECTION

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Our will is to become His. But when this happens it usually is in the time frame that we are experiencing the situation requiring our decision--my will or His. According to St Ignatius of Loyola, there are three times in which a sound and good choice may be made. (1). CERTAIN-Direct call from God. (2). CLEAR: Understanding the situation from the experience of discernment of consolation and desolation and that of the Spirit. (3) CALM: Tranquil. The soul is not agitated. It is not confused by different spirits. It is able to use its natural ability freely with tranquility. ( PAPA's Retreat, Thanksgiving for Christmas, Election Conference. Father Michael Truongluan, C.Ss.R, page 19).

It is safe to say that when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, her immaculate mind understood this supernatural event and was able to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” She knew God, and therefore was able to understand, comprehend, accept and consent without hesitancy. And, because she loved God, she knew immediately to say "yes" . And this "yes" gave her a burning desire to carry out His Will and to trust in His goodness.

When we look at the promises of God, there might be a wait. Abraham waited years for the birth of his son Isaac. Moses and the Israelites wondered around 40 years before reaching the promised land. The Jewish people had long been waiting for the Messiah, the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. They had waited a millennia (a period of thousand years). In a few days this promise will be remembered.

Run to God's promises, His Will . With this as our disposition, one can easily and quickly be able to accomplish all that God asks of us.

"O" Antiphon

O Clavis David (O Key of David

O Key of David,

opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom:

come and free the prisoners of darkness!

God Bless You