December 21, 2014 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16; Ps 89: 2-5, 27-29; Rom 16: 25-27; Lk 1: 26-38
“May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)
With that simple statement, our Blessed Mother Mary represents everything that a good steward must be — someone who has put total trust in God regardless the consequences. On this Fourth and final Sunday of Advent, it is imperative for all of us to keep that in mind.
Mary’s response is what each of us needs to strive for. We, too, need to be prepared to place our lives in God’s hands, and to react to whatever happens with a sense of thanksgiving and resolve. Holy Scripture reminds us these few days before we celebrate the birth of Christ that we have been on a journey, an Advent journey. This journey should have prepared us for the joy of this week, but it also should have been marked by our own ongoing conversion and effort to be better Catholics and Christians.
St. Paul tells us in the second reading “…according to the revelation of the mystery…manifested.” Jesus is the manifestation of this mystery. At Christmas, we must acknowledge this because it represents our salvation, and it is the reason why we must celebrate with great happiness. “For unto us a child is born; unto us a child is given.” (Is 9:6)
