In these final days of Advent, excitement is building all around us. Excitement is also apparent in the scriptures this week. We have already heard about the extraordinary angelic encounters that Joseph and Zechariah experienced in order to help them to accept the great things that God wanted to do through them. Today, the gospel presents the Virgin Mary: she who was foretold by the prophet Isaiah - The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means God with us (Is 7:14).
Today's gospel account tells the story of the encounter Mary had with the angel who announced God's plan to her. Every time I hear this story, I remember the moment when I too heard God's call. It is an invitation to be part of a much larger plan that is unfolding and God always begins with a word of encouragement. In Mary's case, the angel said: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you ... do not be afraid (Lk 1:28, 30). Saint Luke paints a scene that would have us believe that Mary's discernment about this decision took place all in one sitting. Maybe that's the way it happens when someone is without sin, but in our case, discernment of God's will often takes a different path. It can take years for us to get from the point of first hearing God's invitation to the point when we are willing to say: I am the servant of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word (Lk 1:38).
Today, we can listen in faith for God's greetings and invitations. The Lord sees each one of us as filled with grace and encourages us to not be afraid but rather to go out into the world and to be his instruments of peace and love. Each in our own way, let us utter our own responses to this invitation: I am the servant of the Lord.
Have a great day.
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