Gospel Reflection for December 18th, Fourth Sunday in Advent

The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

Luke 1.30-31

To the angel’s greeting, Mary responds with wordless perplexity.  To Gabriel’s invitation to give birth to God’s Son, Mary questions, “How can this be?”  To Gabriel’s promise that God will do the impossible in her, Mary says yes.

This dialogue between Gabriel and Mary outlines the journey in any call.  The journey moves from perplexity, to certainty the call cannot be, to confidence this call can be.  God can do the impossible in me.

With Mary’s yes, the Creator makes a new move, a move to make us whole.  Mary is to name her son Jesus.  The name means he saves.  Jesus will embody the salvation and wholeness of the human race.

How is Mary’s call to be the mother of God like the call of every Christian?

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