Reflection for December 20 Saturday 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:

Do we bow in humility to the will of the Lord?

In the quiet of our hearts, we often carry dreams and plans we hope will shape our future. We may desire a lifelong career or a path that promises security, success, and fulfillment. Yet, deep within us, we may also sense the gentle and persistent voice of the Holy Spirit, inviting us toward something meant not just for ourselves, but for God.

In moments like these, we are faced with a choice. Do we listen attentively to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or do we cling to what we want for ourselves? Do we trust that God’s plan, though sometimes unclear and challenging, is always rooted in love?

Mary shows us the way. She listened to the voice of God delivered through the Angel Gabriel, and she listened to the Holy Spirit already speaking in her heart. Like us, Mary had her own hopes and plans, yet she humbly set them aside and surrendered herself to God’s will. In her “yes,” she embraced a calling far greater than she could have imagined—to become the Mother of Jesus.

When we choose to obey the voice of God, who continually speaks to us, our lives are transformed—not according to the standards and desires of this world, but according to God’s loving purpose for us. We may not receive the material wealth or recognition the world promises, but the moment we say yes to God, we are gifted with something far more precious. We receive peace—a deep and abiding peace that no possession, success, or comfort can ever give.

The Blessed Mother experienced this peace because she trusted and listened. She allowed God’s voice, spoken through the angel and echoed in her heart by the Holy Spirit, to guide her life. In surrender, she found serenity. In obedience, she found joy.

Let us, then, open our hearts to the voice of God and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. God may be calling us to reconcile with someone we have grown distant from, to reach out in humility to a friend, or to forgive and let go of a long-held hurt. These invitations may be difficult, yet they are pathways to freedom and peace.

As we listen today, will we have the courage to surrender our plans, trust in God’s will, and say our own “yes,” even when it asks something more of us than we are comfortable giving? – Marino J. Dasmarinas