Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s Gospel reading is a very familiar passage. It is the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Mary that God has chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. I do not need to repeat the details. How many artists throughout history have striven to give us a picture of how this happened?

During the twenty-five-plus years that I served as bishop, I celebrated hundreds and hundreds of Confirmation ceremonies. Often in my homily, I would present to the candidates two models of young people who were moved by the Holy Spirit to do great things. For the young men, it would be St. Timothy. For the young women, it would be Mary.

I reminded them that Mary was only fifteen or sixteen years old when the angel informed her that God wanted her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary was quite taken aback by this request. In fact, the Gospel says that she was “greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be” (Luke 1:29).

Mary agonized and reflected within her heart. She surely wanted to do God’s will, but how would it be possible to become the mother of Jesus, the Mother of God’s own Son who was destined to undergo the passion and die for the world?

How could she do this? Not on her own power. She would have to rely on the power of Someone much bigger than herself.

The angel reassured her. “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” (Luke 1:35).

Mary trusted those words of the angel. She gave her consent: “May it be done to me according to your word.”

May we trust as Mary did.

Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB