Reflection for December 20, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent: Luke 1:26-38

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

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. 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.

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Reflection:

Was Mary prepared for the Angel Gabriel’s message? No, she was not, and this is evident when she questioned the Angel Gabriel’s announcement. Despite her lack of preparation, she soon embraced it with all of her immaculate heart.

How deep is your love for God or how profound is your love for God? Would you be willing to sacrifice something of yourself for God?  

When the Blessed Virgin Mary obeyed the will of God for her to be the mother of Jesus she sacrificed her own comfort and happiness for the will of God. The Blessed Mother put aside her own safety and honor so that she could honor the will of God and so that she could help bring salvation to all of humanity.     

When the Blessed Mother said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38). There was already profound happiness in her heart for she knew that she would be doing something that is not only for herself but for God and humanity.  

Everyday God is challenging us to always be like Mary who embraced her role in the salvation history with faith, humility and obedience. – Marino J. Dasmarinas