FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God…to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  He said, “Hail full of grace! The Lord is with you…… Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son…But Mary said, ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with man?’ The angel said, “the Holy Spirit will overshadow you…the child to be born will be called…. Son of God.” And Mary said. “May it be done to me according to your word.”

The Scriptures of the Season of Advent have been and are a grace-filled source of reflecting on the Real Presence of God at work in our human lives…forming us as the Body of Christ...even amid the craziness of a pandemic. 

 In the time of Israel’s upheaval, much physical suffering and political turmoil, (times very similar to our own) Isaiah had promised that God, always aware of His Chosen People’s struggles, will send them help …”no more will you weep. He will be gracious to you when you cry out. The Lord will give you the Bread you need and the water for which you thirst.   No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you will see your Teacher” (Is.30:19-20). And again, “a young woman shall conceive and bear a Son…Emanuel” (Is.7:14)

The Annunciation scene in today’s gospel reminds us of the fulfilment of God’s Promise in Isaiah to us through Mary…. the Real Presence of God always at work in our human existence….” the WORD became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.14)

As we reflect on Mary’s mystical experience of God’s special favor and His Son’s awesome humility of embarking on the journey of human life with and for us, perhaps you and I might gratefully reflect how the Holy Spirit over shadows us.  For myself, besides the womb of my earthly mother, unbeknownst to me at the font of Baptism, I was formed by God in the womb of Mother Church.  God’s favor touched me through the Holy Spirit living in my parents and my community of faith.  The Holy Spirit has constantly been at work since my Baptism, living and operating not only thru my parents, but also my Church Community, educating me through my teachers, and over the various, multiple circumstances of life.  This grace of the  “over shadowing of the Spirit” has really never ceased, all through elementary, high school, seminary …. decision to accept the role of priest. In moments of doubt and waywardness the “over shadowing” Spirit’s forgiveness and merciful love guided me from the darkness of human weakness into His marvelous Light.

Perhaps you too may prayerfully reflect with Mary, our Mother, on the favor of God’s “over-shadowing” of the Holy Spirit in the ordinary circumstances of your life’s journey of faith and formation in Jesus, the Christ.  We realize that we are not as yet fully formed into His image and likeness, a mature Body of Christ. Yet with the Birth of the God-Child we are highly favored to celebrate His sharing with us our humanness, all our life’s sufferings and joys, until we share with Him in the fulness of His resurrected life, … seeing God, not hidden, but Face to Face.

With Mary we joyfully pray today, “’May it be it done to me according to your Word.”