Fourth Sunday of Advent B

The speaker begins by inviting the listeners to prepare themselves for the celebration of Christmas by opening their hearts to the Word of God. They guide the listeners through the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina, focusing on the Gospel passage from Luke about the annunciation of Jesus' birth to Mary. The speaker emphasizes that Mary's calling to bear the Savior is a pattern of discipleship for all believers. They remind the listeners that God works through ordinary people in ordinary places. The listeners are encouraged to meditate on the passage and reflect on what resonates with them personally. The speaker shares their own reflection on the phrase "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God," highlighting the idea that they are loved and cherished by God. They invite the listeners to continue engaging with the Gospel passage and to talk to Jesus about its impact on them. The speaker concludes by expressing joy in sharing the Gospel with the listeners. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. And now, so very close to the marvelous celebration of the Feast of Christmas, we prepare ourselves intentionally opening our hearts, our spirits, to the experience of the living Word of God coming to us still in the Gospel. Let me invite you to take a moment to quiet your inner self. If you will, take a deep breath, slowly in and slowly out. Come, Lord Jesus. Allow Your Holy Spirit to bring Your Word to life in me. May I hear Your voice, Good Shepherd. The first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina is simply to read the passage. We read so as to become familiar with the narrative, and to begin to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we read from Luke's Gospel, chapter 1, verses 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. In coming to her he said, Hail, full of grace, 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 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. You will recognize this Gospel from our recent sharing of it at the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Such a rich passage certainly invites a great deal of reflection, of prayerful pondering. Father Pablo Gaddanz, in his commentary, The Gospel of Luke, reminds us that this narrative patterns itself on Old Testament birth announcements, such as that of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18.14, for instance, or the birth of Samson in chapter 13 of Judges. But Father Gaddanz insists this passage here in Luke also follows the Old Testament call narrative, such as that of Gideon found in Judges 6.11-24. Indeed, Mary is being called in this exchange. It is her vocation to bear the Savior of the world and to bring him to God's people so in need of redemption. In this, again, we see how Mary is a pattern of discipleship for all of us. Through baptism, we have been called to bear Jesus, to bring him to a world so in need of his love, mercy, and healing. Note also the context of this annunciation of the birth of Jesus. It follows directly on the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah. Through the angel, God comes to an old priest fulfilling his priestly duties in the temple and to a young girl just going about her daily chores. God's work, you see, his unfolding plan for the world, happens through the most ordinary of people in the most ordinary of places. Turning to read the gospel a second time, let me remind you, friends, that God continues to speak to us, ordinary as we might be. Be sensitive as the passage is read to how it speaks to you personally. Become aware of a word or phrase or image that stirs you as you hear the gospel proclaimed. Once again, we open ourselves to the word as we read Luke 1.26-28. 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. In coming to her he said, Hail, full of grace, 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 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. We come now to the second step of Lectio Divina, our praying with the Gospel, and that is meditation. In meditating on the Word, we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out to us. What single word or phrase, perhaps, or image from the Gospel that speaks most powerfully to us? What spoke to you? As I read this passage today, what really stirs in me is this line, Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. As we've already shared, Mary is our perfect model of discipleship. What I sense is the Holy Spirit reminding me that at my baptism, the angels announced over me, This child has found favor with God. I am being encouraged, even in this moment, to recall all the times I have experienced the nearness of God to me and felt personally His favor toward me. I am a favored child of God. I am loved, cherished by God. But isn't this somehow at the very heart of the Christmas mystery? For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. The gift of Jesus to Mary, through Mary, to the world, to me, is a gift flowing from the Father's abundant love for me and, of course, for the world. Lord Jesus Christ, in this sacred season, unfold within me anew the revelation of God's favor for me. May the renewed experience of His love send me out to bear You, the love of God for the world, to everyone I meet. Friends, let me invite you again to continue to sit with this Gospel passage. What does it do in you? What is it saying in you? What is it saying to you? Talk to Jesus about what His Word is doing in you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the Word, the experience you have received, deep in your spirit, where the Lord might bring it growth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the Gospel with you.