Fourth Sunday of Advent
Reading I 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Responsorial Psalm Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 Reading II Romans 16:25-27 Gospel Luke 1:26-38
Advent season comes to an end. All the four candles on the advent wreath are finally lit. In today’s Gospel story, Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and addressed her as “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you.” Many scholars translate the greeting as “you have been blessed.” Truly, Mary has been blessed. And in response to the announcement of the angel, Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me as you say.”
Mary was blessed not for her own sake, and she understood this because she calls herself a servant. A servant is one who has a task to accomplish, one who has a mission to fulfill. Mary’s mission was to give to the world the blessing that was given her, her Son, Jesus Christ. This is a very good spirituality to live by. If you have been blessed by God, you are to be a blessing for others. What you have received from God, was meant to be shared to others, God wants to give through you. That is what Mary did. That is what we are called to do.
May the light of the four candles remind us not only of Jesus’ words that He is the light of the world, but also that His followers are supposed to be witnesses to the world.
