(Homily for the
4th Sunday of Advent Yr. B)
Today we enter the fourth and last
week (or better the last day) of Advent, and as we draw closer to the event of
Christ, the Advent lessons as replicated
in the readings take us more than ever, to the brink of the mystery of
Incarnation. The Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, which
culminate in the figure of John the Baptist, find their fulfilment in the event
of Christ. A careful observation along our Advent journey reveals that there is
a move from John the Baptist’s mission to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the
Annunciation. Indeed, here we have two important Advent figures: while John the
Baptist summarizes the Old Testament prophecies and announces the impending Christ-event,
Mary on the other hand served as an agent through whom the mystery of
Incarnation was realized. She served as the door for the entrance of the
Messiah to the world. At the center of
Annunciation event is the creative act of the Holy Spirit, which points to the
transcendental origin of Jesus.
The first reading from the second
book of Samuel (2Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-11, 16)
brings to the fore in a classical manner,
the Old Testament David’s Messianic hope. Intent on
looking for ways to give thanks to God for all the blessings he received from
Him, King David decided to build a house for God better than his own. For in the
history of Israel, God's presence was manifested in the Ark of the Covenant, a
sacred wooden box which contained the two stone tablets given to Moses. This
was carried in their travels and their battles as a reminder of God presence. This
was kept in a sacred tent. In the passage of this reading we hear that after
God finally gave him rest from his enemies, King David was bothered that while
he lived in a house of cedar, the Ark of God dwelt in a tent. Meanwhile, at
the beginning Nathan gave his approval to the King’s desire of building a house
for Yahweh, but he later gave a different indication in accordance to the further
word he received from the Lord at night. Instead
of David building a temple for Yahweh, Yahweh Himself promised to keep the
dynasty of David forever. Even though this is not a messianic prophecy per se, because it does not talk about
the Advent of the ideal Davidic King. It was only later that this promise could
indicate the coming of a Messiah from the lineage of David. And indeed, this
promise has been fulfilled in and through the Coming of Christ into human
history. For God’s presence is no longer
through the ark, but now God is really with his people, in and through his Son.
The second reading (Rm.16:25-27) presents the mystery of
God’s revelation, kept hidden until the Incarnation event. In this passage our
Lord Jesus Christ is seen as the One who
revealed the true meaning of the Old Testament prophecies with His coming.
Thus, we could say that there is a
passage from the period of silence to that of revelation, which is at the
heart of the Advent message. St. Paul speaks about the
mystery of salvation manifested through the prophetic writings as God’s plan
for all. Above all else however, through Jesus Christ, the salvation of mankind
has come to all nations and through him, we find the complete fulfilment of
God's promises to the prophets
In the Gospel (Lk.1:26-38) St. Luke presents the Annunciation event, an event indeed beaming with hope.
Behold, we have a number of Annunciation narratives in the Old Testament (eg.
The birth of Isaac Gen.18, Sampson Judg.13 and Samuel 1Sam. 1), and Luke equally recorded the Annunciation of John the
Baptist. As a matter of fact, Annunciation narratives precede the birth of an
important figure and they reveal beforehand the mission of the child to be
born, in the matrix of the Salvation history. But no doubt, the account of Jesus’ Annunciation supersedes other
Annunciation accounts. For his is
not just about a miraculous birth of a barren couple (eg. Isaac), but a
miraculous conception of a young woman, who has “no husband”. Indeed, at this event the creative act of the Holy
Spirit receives more a wonderful consideration. This creative act of the Holy Spirit is a pointer that Jesus has a
transcendental origin, which cannot be collocated in the human ongoing history.
As the celebration of Jesus’ coming in flesh becomes imminent, the essence of
the Annunciation narrative ought to be the affirmation of the transcendental origin
of Jesus. Through his Incarnation, He is
one with us, yet He transcends us. He is one with us and above us.
Behold, in line with the Annunciation
accounts, the mission of the Child to be born (Jesus) is defined in connection
with the Davidic Messiah. At this point, we see the link between the first
reading and the Gospel. Indeed, the
Incarnation and coming of Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the Davidic
covenantal promise. Indeed, St. Luke in today’s gospel wished
to indicate the divine origin of Jesus, and equally to show how his birth was
the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.
In a particular manner, today’s
Gospel invites us in a special way to reflect on two verses from the anecdote
of the Annunciation:
►First is the
angel’s greetings to Mary, “Hail Mary! Full of grace” (v.27), as a matter of fact, here we readily notice that the initiative of and
for this great event came from God.
►Second is Mary’s response, “Behold the
handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to
me according to your word” (v.38), Mary readily accepted the will and
Word of God. Mary without fear gave her positive response that changed the
history of human salvation. With her ‘Fiat’ or ‘Yes’ Mary brought God forth
in and to the world, thus, God becomes present in the midst of his people.
Above all, as we approach the last
hours of Advent with this powerful event on the reception of God’s Word by the
Blessed Virgin Mary, let us pray asking God to give us the grace of Spiritual
spontaneity and readiness to welcome His Word in our life, who comes knocking (cf. Rev. 3:20) every day in different
ways and forms at the door of our heart. Let
us bear in mind and be conscious that our existential plans, desires and
designs could be challenged and changed by the Lord who has better plans and
projects for us (cf. Jer. 29:11).
Indeed, in the first reading we can see David’s plan of building a temple for God
and God’s different project. Child of God, no matter what God is proposing to
you today, “do not be afraid” (Lk.1:30). At the heart of the Spirituality of
Advent is indeed, the sensibility of waiting for the time and coming of the
Lord. It is all about waiting for and on Him. The Psalmist says “I wait eagerly
for the Lord’s help, and in his word I trust…” (Ps.130:5-6). However, we do
not wait on Him idly, and for this, I would like to conclude my reflection
with the words of Meister Echkart: “What
good is it to me if Mary gave birth to the Son of God fourteen hundred years
ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of god in my time and in my
culture”. Therefore, may the openness and disposition of Mary spur us on to
create space for Jesus in our life, and this indeed, is the best way of
celebrating Christmas, Making space for
the Savior!
May Jesus find a
fitting and worthy dwelling place in our hearts when he comes!
May we like Mary
“become pregnant with Jesus”, so that we may carry Him along where ever we go!
May the Word of
God continue to take flesh in us!
May Jesus find
space in our societies, in our political, religious and economic structures,
and in our World! Amen!!!
(Fada Vitus M.C.
Unegbu)
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