“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
20th December 2017.
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WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Reading 1: Is 7: 10-14 The Lord promises to an unreceptive Ahaz that a “virgin shall be with child…and shall name him Immanuel.”
Res. Psalm: Ps 24: 1-6 Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
Gospel: Lk 1: 26-38 Luke relates the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy to Ahaz: the Virgin Mary consents to become the mother of the “Son of the Most High.”
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Today we are given the witness of perfect faith of our Blessed Mother. What was her response? “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” We traditionally speak of this as her great “fiat” (yes) to God! One thing we see within these words is that our Blessed Mother is offering her complete consent to something that she does not understand. The archangel gives a brief explanation to her but, if we honestly analyze this situation, what the angel says is beyond belief for most people. The archangel’s explanation was not what convinced our Blessed Mother. She didn’t listen to these words, analyze them and consider how likely they were or were not. She listened, pondered, and then immediately consented to the words spoken. Our Blessed Mother’s faith was one that knew the truth without having to fully understand it.
Like Mary, we never know when God will send a message to us. We must always be expectant, listening, waiting, intent. The Gospel today records the central event of human history, the Incarnation itself. The divine investment in our human nature not only emphasizes our dignity as men and women, but also that God is "at home" in lowliness and simplicity. Mary became the Lord's house. Her womb became the ark of his covenant. God sends his Son to us. God's messages are, therefore, linked to the peak moments of world history, when we get a momentary glimpse of the divine plan. In baptism ‘Immanuel’ is born again in us through water and the Holy Spirit. Our response should be like Mary. We must open ourselves more deeply to the indwelling Christ, allowing Jesus to heal and transform us.
Are you and I able to consent to the will of God? Do we trust God more than we trust our own human reason? Are we willing to move forward in life by faith rather than by our limited human reason alone? Let us strive to imitate the pure faith-knowledge of our Blessed Mother. She knew the truth because it was spoken in her heart. And as she listened, she consented and embraced the holy will of God.
Prayer: Lord, I desire to trust You with my whole mind, heart, soul and strength. Help us to follow the example of Mary, always ready to do your will. At the message of an angel she welcomed your eternal Son and, filled with the light of your Spirit, she became the temple of your Word. Help me to always hear You speak and to respond with complete faith and generosity. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen