In 2016, I decided to reenter the seminary. But I had to leave behind my business, my service as Feast Builder, my family, and friends. I sought confirmation from trusted mentors, and I found myself on a retreat, begging God for the grace of clarity to know if I was called to be a priest. But the retreat ended and I didn’t hear any “voice.” Instead, I felt that God removed all the anxieties of leaving behind my “old life” to start anew. 

There I learned another definition of clarity. Clarity is not just being attached to a goal, but primarily, being detached from unnecessary baggage. The world tells us that we need to be clear about what we want and achieve it. On the contrary, the Spirit tells us that when we clear our hearts from sin, attachments, unforgiveness, and self-centeredness, we can truly give our wholehearted yes. 

Mary had a heart of clarity. Because of this, her yes to God was her happiest and most loving act, by which Jesus came into the world. Migs Ramirez (emiguelframirez@gmail.com)

Reflect:

What do you need to detach from so you can fully give your yes to God?

Father, cleanse my heart from unnecessary attachments so I can fully give my life to You. Amen. 

Saint Julius, pray for us.

How often do we get in the way of the Lord's plan because of our self-righteousness? Why do we insist on doing things our way? Why is it hard to surrender to God’s will? It would have been better for Ahaz to obey the prophet instead of being smug and self-righteous. Before we judge him too harshly, let us be sure we are not guilty of the same. 

¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: ¹¹ Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!” ¹² But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” ¹³ Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory. 

¹ The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. ² For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) ³ Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? ⁴ He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) ⁵ He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R) 

Gospel | Luke 1:26-38

Mary’s simple answer is the ultimate example of faith. "Whatever You say, Lord, that is fine with me." If only we had the simplicity and obedience of Mary’s faith, what a different world we would live in. Mary's obedience is partially responsible for the birth of Christ into the world. Imagine the difference thousands of similar responses could bring to the world. 

Gospel Acclamation

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness. 

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. ³² 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, ³³ and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” ³⁵ 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. ³⁶ 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; ³⁷ for nothing will be impossible for God.” ³⁸ 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. 

Reflect:

How does Mary's "yes" to the Lord inspire you in your own response to His call for you? 

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 PETER 1 - 3 today.

As we are now so near Christmas, it would be good to reflect on thiswoman we call Mama Mary, the Blessed Mother. In the Gospel of Luke, she wassaying the most beautiful prayer that we call The Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior.” 

Just a few sentences before she said this prayer at what we call the Annunciation, she was deeply troubled. The Angel Gabriel had appeared andsaid, “Blessed are you.” But she didn’t feel blessed at that moment. She felt deeplytroubled by the words, “You shall conceive a son who shall be called Jesus.” And she said, “How can this be since I do not know any man?” 

She was betrothed to Joseph. But guess what? They were never ever out on a date. So you can imagine how deeply troubled she was. But what did she say? “Be it done unto me according to your word.” Can you imagine the amount of courage it took to say those words? 

Mary went through a lot in her life. At the end of the Gospel on the Annunciation, we found out that the angel left her and never appeared to her again to explain things. When Jesus was lost after the Passover, as they were coming back from Jerusalem, Mary thought that He was maybe with the relatives and they discovered that He wasn’t. She was troubled until they found Him. 

The Scripture doesn’t talk about it, but I think we would find her troubled again when Jesus went out into the desert for forty days and forty nights. When she was at the foot of the cross, can you ever imagine how she felt as people mocked Him, as He experienced utter pain until He breathed His last? 

Think of the things you go through when you’re deeply troubled, when your world just falls apart. Think of how panicky you feel. The Blessed Mother knows how you feel. She’s been through it all. And when that happens, perhaps the most beautiful prayer to say is, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, you know what it’s like to be me. Pray for me.” Fr. Bob McConaghy 

Reflection Question:

How do you react when troubles come into your life? 

Mama Mary, pray for me whenever troubles come into my life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________