Gospel: December 20, 2023

(Wednesday)3rd Week of Advent

Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Let the Lord enter, he is the king of glory.

1st Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-14Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.”Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”

Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

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Reflection:“These simple people were chosen to raise God’s Son.”

Most of us have heard the story of the annunciation to Mary so many times that it has become so familiar that we can miss the wonder of what Jesus has done and is doing. The wonder goes beyond the biological miracle of a virgin conceiving and giving birth. The greatest wonder of all is that God decided to become human so that, through Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection, we might gain a share in the divine life and so live with God forever in heaven. It’s amazing that God chose Mary for this honor. She wasn’t rich or famous or powerful. She lived in a small town in Galilee. Her espoused husband, though of the house of David, was not part of the royal line of succession. He was a poor carpenter. Yet these simple people were chosen to raise God’s Son.In these seasons of Advent and Christmas, may we regain our sense of wonder so that we may be attentive to God’s presence and action in our lives.