Reflections
December 8, 2011
Luke 1:26-38
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, favored one! 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:
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be…?” I was offering a funeral
Mass for a woman at whose wedding I had officiated six months earlier.
She suddenly died of a heart attack. The family learned she was with
child. After the final blessing, the young husband could barely stand.
His face was a picture of pain, sadness, and disbelief. As they helped
him up, he cried out, “God, why…?!”
“How can this be…?” Mary asks. She may as well question, “Why?” She
does not dream to be Mother of God. She just wants a home in Galilee and
a simple life with an ordinary carpenter.
Although the Gospel is Mary’s story, the narrative is full of God. It
starts with an angel sent from God and ends with “nothing will be
impossible for God,” with Lord or God mentioned many times in between.
It is still God’s call and will, God’s dream and plan. Mary is only
God’s handmaid. We love Mary for this: God has favored her and is with
her.
Think and say God every hour today, even in your work.
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