Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord! ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent (B) ~ by Ronnie Archer
Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)
2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Ps 89:2-3-5, 27, 29
Rom 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Ps 89:2-3-5, 27, 29
Rom 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
This Sunday marked Fr. Francois' 21st anniversary of becoming a servant of the Lord! Fr. Dan Brady of St. Michael's concelebrated Mass with Fr. Francois. Fr. Dan tied today's Gospel to the fact that twenty-one years ago, Fr. Francois also said, "yes, I am a servant of the Lord"... not having any idea of where it might lead him.
In our first reading for this Sunday, God replies to King David's message concerning his plan to build a permanent house for the Ark of God...instead of having to continue to be "housed" in a tent. God's message in this was that He was the One who destroyed all their enemies and brought them out of Egypt and promised to continue to shield them from any future enemies. He would establish a house for them. Because of the greatness of God, He did not need a "house" to dwell in.
St. Paul writes to the Romans that "according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, and according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for so long," (Rom 15:25) that now God's plans for all people would now be manifested.
Fr. Dan gave a very powerful homily on the gospel of St. Luke. We have heard of those who don't quite understand the practice of the Catholic Church in having such a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We honor mothers in our own lives and also the mother of someone in our midst who is an important figure. To honor Mary is of utmost importance and very fitting since She is the Mother of our God!
Each year we honor Mary on December 8th, which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, meaning that She was conceived without the original sin that we all were born with. God chose her from the beginning and Mary made a choice. She was not forced to say "yes", but she did, and that moment changed the world forever. Mary, herself, had to say the word yes, and she did so by saying..."Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) Mary was agreeing to become a "servant of the Lord", not having any idea of what that might mean for her, but she trusted God and said yes.
Will we say yes also?... by saying "I am a servant of the Lord!"
~ Image: The Annunciation by John Collier
In our first reading for this Sunday, God replies to King David's message concerning his plan to build a permanent house for the Ark of God...instead of having to continue to be "housed" in a tent. God's message in this was that He was the One who destroyed all their enemies and brought them out of Egypt and promised to continue to shield them from any future enemies. He would establish a house for them. Because of the greatness of God, He did not need a "house" to dwell in.
St. Paul writes to the Romans that "according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, and according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for so long," (Rom 15:25) that now God's plans for all people would now be manifested.
Fr. Dan gave a very powerful homily on the gospel of St. Luke. We have heard of those who don't quite understand the practice of the Catholic Church in having such a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We honor mothers in our own lives and also the mother of someone in our midst who is an important figure. To honor Mary is of utmost importance and very fitting since She is the Mother of our God!
Each year we honor Mary on December 8th, which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, meaning that She was conceived without the original sin that we all were born with. God chose her from the beginning and Mary made a choice. She was not forced to say "yes", but she did, and that moment changed the world forever. Mary, herself, had to say the word yes, and she did so by saying..."Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) Mary was agreeing to become a "servant of the Lord", not having any idea of what that might mean for her, but she trusted God and said yes.
Will we say yes also?... by saying "I am a servant of the Lord!"
~ Image: The Annunciation by John Collier
Labels: advent, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Tuesday, December 20, 2011
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