Meditation: Luke 1:26-38

3rd Week of Advent

Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

Christmas Day is often the culmination of weeks of preparation and anticipation. The festivities—liturgical celebrations, gift exchanges, special meals, and family visits—may even linger on through New Year’s Day.

But then it’s over. A feeling of flatness sets in as life returns to normal. Do you think Mary experienced something like that? After the angel Gabriel appeared and made his astounding invitation, St. Luke says simply, he “departed from her” (Luke 1:38). Maybe a sense of awe lingered for a time, but then Mary had to return to normal. That must have been quite a feat, knowing what she knew while she cooked and cleaned, drew water from the village well, and washed clothes. God had done something remarkable in her, but the mundane beckoned.

Yes, the angel may have departed from Mary, but she didn’t forget his message. No doubt, she continued to ponder the significance of “full of grace” and what the “power of the Most High” overshadowing her might mean (Luke 1:28, 35). Surely she turned her thoughts to bearing a child destined to be “called holy, the Son of God” (1:35). She had accepted God’s words, and now it was time to let those words grow and take shape in her heart, even as the child grew and took shape in her womb.

What a model! For nearly four weeks now, you have prepared for Christmas. Maybe God has spoken to you or moved your heart in some way. Perhaps his word has grown in you. And he’s not done yet. There are still four more days of Advent—followed by the whole Christmas season!

And then what? Life will return to normal. But like Mary, you can hold on to these things and continue to ponder them. Maybe start writing down some of the ways you have seen God working—perhaps the time you felt more at peace in Mass or when you were able to say no to a persistent temptation. You can write out a Scripture verse from Mass that struck you or a prayer intention that you want to keep offering. Then, when the “normal days” come, you can keep pondering these words and let Jesus grow in you.

“Holy Spirit, help me to hold on tightly to the things you have been saying this Advent.”

Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24:1-6

Homily of the Day

December 20, 2019

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

“Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” When the angel first uttered these words, Mary was disturbed. And yet we see that after Mary’s fiat that day, we can greet each other today saying, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” We are in fact, a grace-filled people. The Lord has chosen to be with us always until the end of time. Pause for awhile and listen while we say these words to ourselves, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. I know that our hearts will surely be stirred by these words. God, in His love and mercy, continues to live within us despite our shortcomings. How can we ever be worthy to stand in front of Him knowing what we know about ourselves? And yet, here we are, filled with His grace. What more is there to want?

Today most specially, we are invited to remember how our Lord loves us, how He longs to be with us, how we cannot be complete without Him. Our hearts pour out in gratitude that our Lord has chosen to be one like us. We thank Mary for her decision to say yes to the invitation of the Lord.

Lord, keep us close to you, do not let us stray too far from you. Keep our hearts grateful for the many graces of your love and mercy. Grant us the grace, so that like Mary, we can keep constantly at prayer, recognize your voice and be ready to say yes to your invitation.

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

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