Two Advents ago, I heard the voice of God telling me to take a leap of faith. Every Bible reflection, homily, and encouragement from praying friends pointed to a change I needed to make. I had a vague idea of what He wanted me to do—to serve Him in a different way—to leave the job I loved, and go somewhere else He needed me. Where? I didn’t know. But I knew this calling was from Him.

My good friend and prayer partner supported me in this huge decision. She assured me that God would be with me every step of the way. But she reminded me, too, that there would be trials, and that my yes to God had to be the yes of Mary—firm and unwavering and in compliance to God’s will despite not knowing the details.

Today, as I write, God has already revealed part of my mission, and it brings me so much joy. Things are so much clearer after taking that leap. Not all is known yet, but I continue along the path, inspired and guided by Mary to give my daily yes.

Geraldine G. Catral (ggabrielcatral@gmail.com)

reflect

Have you taken the time to find out where God is leading you and what He wants you to do?  In what ways is He asking you to say yes?

Lord, I am Your servant.  Be it done to me according to Your Word.

Saint Julius, pray for us.

The word “Emmanuel” is one that we often associate with Christmas, as it means “God is with us.” From the foundation of the world, God has dwelt among His people. God is the same God, but we have changed. Sin has separated us from God and made us hide from His presence. Let us make a place in our hearts to welcome Emmanuel, the God who always wants to be with us.

¹⁰ 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 be with child, 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 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

It may surprise us that the angel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid.” Like us, Mary was afraid of this supernatural and wondrous being who had suddenly appeared in her life. What could he want? For Mary, the coming of the angel was unexpected, jolting her out of her usual routine. His message was about to turn her life upside down, and it was natural for Mary to feel fear and apprehension. Mary is our mother; she understands our fears and can support us with her love and prayers. 

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.

Read the Bible in one year! Read WISDOM 11 - 15 today.

The Gospel today is the scene of the Annunciation—Mary being visited by the Angel Gabriel. We have heard this story many times that a detail sometimes escapes our attention. Although Mary has a name, the angel addressed her with a strange greeting: “Hail, ‘full of grace,’ the Lord is with you!”

“Full of grace” in Greek is kecharitomene. In Latin, it is gratia plena. While there are many theories as to the exact translation of the word kecharitomene, there is considerable agreement among scholars that it can be translated as “you who have been blessed.” As a response to the announcement of the angel, Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done unto me as you say.” Truly, Mary has been blessed—blessed beyond measure, blessed beyond all others.

But she was blessed not for her own sake. Mary herself understood this. She called herself a servant—with a mission to fulfill, a task to accomplish. What is that mission? To give to the world the blessing that was given to her—her Son, Emmanuel.

Every Christmas morning, I have a group of friends who go around their immediate neighborhood with food packages that they themselves prepared to distribute to the homeless people roaming the city streets. The food packages amount to almost 300 meal boxes. I once asked one of the organizers of this informal food brigade why they do it. She said, “Father, we have been blessed. 

This is a simple way of being a blessing to others, of paying forward the blessings God has given us.”

If you have been blessed by God, you are meant to be a blessing to others. What God gives you, He wants to give through you. 

That is what Mary did. That is what my friends do every Christmas morning. That is what I propose we can also do. 

Fr. Joel Jason

reflection question

No one is so rich that they have nothing to receive. No one is so poor that they have nothing to give. What can you bless the world with? 

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous, to give and not to count the cost. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________________