I AM THE SERVANT OF THE LORD

IV SUNDAY OF ADVENT-Luke 1:26-38

The fourth Sunday of Advent invites us to look at Mary of Nazareth, chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was a humble girl from a forgotten town (village!) in Galilee. We know nothing about her family and her upbringing. She was a Jewish girl among many others who led humble lives. Thus, it is not surprising that Mary was bewildered at the angel’s greeting. She asked herself what all that might mean and she could not find the sense of it. The angel called upon Mary to rejoice because she is “highly favoured”. And she is favoured, because “the Lord is with you.” Whatever the problems we may face or the mission we may accept, we may be sure that we are not alone. That’s why, in the liturgy, we repeat so many times that greeting, presenting it as a deep wish of our hearts: “The Lord be with you”. Noticing that “she was deeply disturbed”, the angel reassured her with these simple words: “Do not be afraid”. Throughout the Bible, those words are repeated time and again and, in the New Testament, Jesus will use them whenever his disciples feel disturbed and hopeless. Today, we are the ones who hear these words: “Do not be afraid!”, because “the Lord is with you”. We are not alone. The Lord never abandons us to our fate. He brings peace to our hearts and fills us with hope. We may look forward to the salvation which is coming. 

God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. And Mary accepted God’s will and put herself at the service of the Lord. By her humility and obedience, she became a role model to all of us. “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” This is the only way to prepare ourselves to welcome Christ in our lives. We are the servants of the Lord, and we are ready to obey his word and to accept his will in our lives.

With thanksgiving and praise, we may sing the psalm:

“I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;

  through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.

Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,

  that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.” (Ps 89)