Dec 20 2020 Reflection

Sunday 20 December 2020

First Reading: 2 SM 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16
Responsorial Psalm:
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Second Reading: ROM 16:25-27
Gospel Reading: LK 1:26-38

Today’s Note: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Gospel Reading:

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.
And 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 God 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.

Reflection:

The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. (Luke 1:32) 

It’s almost Christmas! That thought can fill our hearts with anticipation. We might look forward to seeing friends or family. We can’t wait to see the look on a loved one’s face when they open the gift we carefully chose. Or we just want to enjoy celebrating Jesus’ birth with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But think about the anticipation that the Jews felt as they awaited the coming of the Messiah! Their hope was kindled almost one thousand years before Christ, when God promised David a kingly lineage. Imagine as well Mary’s surprise when the angel described the son she would bear by using nearly the same words that God had spoken to David so much earlier. He would be called Son of the Most High, he would sit on the throne of his father, David, and he would reign over an eternal kingdom (Luke 1:26-38). Israel’s long wait was over—the birth of Jesus would bring about everything they had hoped for.

As modern-day Christians, we don’t experience the Jews’ yearning for a Messiah, but we can still feel the ache of longing. For peace. For justice. For security. Jesus is the fulfillment of these yearnings too. When conflict—on a large or small scale—threatens to tear us apart, Jesus offers reconciliation and the chance to live once more in peace with God and our neighbor. When injustice breaks our hearts, Jesus tells us he has come to make all things right and to give us the strength to make things better in our own corner of the world. When insecurity makes us feel as if nothing ever remains the same, Jesus reminds us that his kingdom is everlasting; he gives us a sure foundation to build our lives on.

That’s the kind of fulfillment that the kingship of Jesus can bring. That’s what he promises. And that’s a gift we can all receive this Christmas.

“Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all my longings! I love you, Lord!”