4th Sunday of Advent B
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
2 Sam 7:1-5. 8-12.14, 16. Psalm 88:2-5, 27, 29 Rv.2 Romans 16:25-27.
Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in?
Of this I am sure, your love lasts forever.
I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages.
Mary, you are to conceive and bear a Son and you must name him Jesus.
Luke 1: 26-38
Gospel Lk 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.
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.
Faith, love, service.
David felt embarrassed. He had a palace and the Ark was in a tent. . He thought mistakenly that God lived in a tent. He decided to build him a house. Paul will tell the Athenians, ‘God does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands’ (Acts 17:24). We too often think like David. We build Churches and call them the house of God. We may meet Jesus in our churches but they are not his home. There is one home for the Lord Jesus: ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit abides within you’ (1 Cor. 3:16). ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’ (6:19). ‘We are the temple of the living God’ (2Cor 6: 16). God wants to make his home in you. ‘In him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28).
Mary is the model believer. Though she does not fully understand the implications she gladly welcomes God into her womb. ‘Listen, you are to conceive and bear a Son…He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High…I am the handmaid of the Lord.’ Prayer without service is mere sentiment. Service without love is repugnant. As soon as the angel has gone, Mary hurries to Elizabeth. She is a young woman and Elizabeth is old. In her old age she is pregnant for the first time. Mary realises she needs her help. Her love makes her hurry. Elizabeth is already six months into her pregnancy. As the living temple of God, Mary washes dishes and clothes, ministering to all Elizabeth’s needs and she stays there till Elizabeth delivers her son.
Our religion isn’t just a matter of being pious, of going to church, saying some prayers, a little fasting and other devotions. Mary conceived Jesus but once. We receive him Sunday by Sunday in the Holy Eucharist. Do we realize? Does it become a transforming experience? Do we become the temple of the living God? Do we become what we eat and drink? Do we become Jesus Himself?
We are to become all of us together and each of us individually the Body of Christ. We live in Christ and he lives in us as the vine and branches. This is not a pious truth but a truth to change our lives. We become people who long to give ourselves to our brothers and sisters just as Jesus did. Like him we humbly wash their feet. With Mary we are ever ready to minister to those in need.
‘True and blameless religion lies in helping orphans and widows in their need and keeping oneself from the world’s corruption’ (James 1: 27). This Advent join Mary in prayer and love. By your life attract people to the temple of the Lord.
Father, may I never err by making my religion simply prayer without outreach to others in loving service.
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