REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT 20TH DECEMBER 2023

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT 20TH DECEMBER 2023

Isaiah 7:10-14; Ps.24; Luke 1:26-38

Embracing Daily Conversion

In the gospel reading of today, we find an interaction between man and the divine, between Mary and the Angel Gabriel. It was a unique experience for Mary. The visit and message of the angel first caused Mary to be greatly troubled because she did not understand what it was all about.

The message of the angel meant that henceforth, Mary will now share deeply in the life of the Lord. The kind of conversion Mary experienced here is not one that involves a movement from sin to purity or from darkness to light; but one of from light to brighter light. The Lord had a plan for Mary but that plan rested on Mary’s virtue of purity.

She thought that her virginity would constituted a hindrance to the realization of the message of the angel; little did she know that it was on her virginity that Christian faith and theology will rest. If Mary was not a virgin, then her conception by the power of the Holy Spirit will seem like a fiery tale. There would be no basis to believe that Jesus is of divine origin.

But then, Mary did not keep herself pure in preparation for all of these. Instead, it was because she was pure that was why she could cooperate more intimately in the realization of divine will. Holiness should not be practiced in view of a reward; rather it should be embraced because of what it makes us become – loving and loveable persons.

Beloved, our experience of Christ is something that grows gradually but steadily. Just as a child needs to pass the common entrance examination before he/she can be admitted into secondary school, so also we must be busy doing the will of God before we can experience him in a most profound manner.

A man who rejects a lady he impregnated will be termed irresponsible when he comes up to claim the child after delivery. In the same way, we attempt being irresponsible if we fail to keep in touch with God in our day to day activities, and then expect to receive the reward of his coming. At this point one may need to ask: when people move from place to place in search of miracles, do then ordinarily have a cordial relationship with the one from whom they seek something extraordinary?

Again I say this: heaven is not a place to establish relationship; it is rather a place to perfect a relationship that had begun and was preserved on earth. If we reject communion with God by disobeying his commandments, then a miracle that will make us behold his face in heaven, does not exist. Today, Mary teaches us to live our lives pleasing the Lord so that we will always be worthy instruments in his hands for greater works. Note this: God does not use us because we are worthy; but he will not use us if we are not willing to be worthy.