4th Sunday of ADVENT
Dec 24, 2023 2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38.
“…For nothing is impossible for God…”
Today’s readings focus on the circumstances leading up to the first coming of
Jesus, which sets the pattern for his coming to us now and at the end of time. The
Gospel stresses the key role of Mary in the work of our salvation. The focus of
today’s liturgy is the Davidic covenant, the promise of a throne that will last forever, which appears in the 1st reading, in the Resp. Psalm, and in the Gospel, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that “Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus…For nothing is impossible for God…”
Today’s Gospel surprises us by telling us that this King would be born to an
ordinary virgin, not by means of sexual relationship, but through the Holy Spirit,
and that the Son of God, Jesus, would become Incarnate as a descendant of
David.
Life Message: Nothing is Impossible for God! Mrs. Marie Norton of Elmira, New
York, died in the fall of 1951, admired and praised by all who had known her.
Before she had any children, she was afflicted with cancer, and physicians advised
her against becoming pregnant. But Marie decided to ignore advice and leave
matters in God’s hands. She went ahead and brought ten children into the world,
and they were healthy children. Had Marie’s malady vanished? By no means.
For thirty-five years she was under treatment and radiation. Forty-two times
she went under the surgeon’s knife.
After Marie’s death her son-in-law’s mother wrote a letter to the paper in praise
of Mrs. Norton. “As I observed her giving, besides services, joy and sunshine …
to us all, it has left me with a new reverence, a feeling that I have witnessed
something this sick world needs today… an assurance that God does hear and
answer those who love and trust Him.
”Yes, He hears, and He gives us of Himself: the supreme Christmas gift is His
beloved Son. “… For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke, 1:37).
Conclusion: We need to try to learn God’s plan for our lives: The Good News in
today’s Scripture message is not only that God is making provision for the
salvation of His people, but also that He has a plan for each individual person. In
many cases, our work for God seems rather ordinary, but each ordinary task
which we carry out fits into God's plan in ways that we cannot yet understand.
God desires not only the skill of our hands and talents but the love of our
hearts. The Babe in the Manger reminds us of what God has done and is still
doing for us. What are we doing for Him in return? Let us show our gratitude to
God by living as true followers of Christ: “Behold, here I am, Lord! I come to do
Your will.” Therefore, like Mary, we need to say a courageous and generous
“yes” to God, because we are assured that indeed “Nothing is impossible for God.