Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

 Lectionary: 196

In the sixth month,

the angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Of course, we hear this story about the Virgin Mary many times a year; but this time, we hear it in the context of Saint Luke's set of five stories. Two concern the birth of John the Baptist; two concern the birth of Jesus; and the narratives converge in the central story as the expectant mothers meet and celebrate the marvelous works of God.

 

Each story can stand alone, and they are presented separately each day this week, but we should know the context of a Bible passage. A precious gem shines more brightly when it's set with other gems. Like these stories, they sparkle with one another. 

Notice the particularity of the individuals. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary are named and each is given a specific part in the drama. They were not chosen at random. They are both worthy and ready. Each character might not know everything there is to know about the infants to be born, but they know they must not fail. They are glad to play their parts, which they do with enthusiasm and gratitude. (Joseph, of course, will also play his part but his story is told in Matthew's gospel.) 

And yet the elderly couple and the young virgin also face daunting challenges. They know things that cannot be explained. Zechariah cannot speak of the angel's unexpected message but manages to convey the word to his wife. The couple must deal with the boy's unusual name, and they do it with neither explanation nor apology. "His name is John -- period.) 

Mary's story is credible only to the credulous and the faithful. Apparently, Elizabeth is sufficiently overwhelmed by her own pregnancy to intuit immediately the Virgin's conception. And, according to Matthew, the first believer requires the reassurance of an angelic dream. 

Turning more directly to today's story, I appreciate the angel's careful explanation to Mary. She deserves to know much about the child she will bear. And she is told the boy's name since it describes his mission. 

As we reflect on our own vocations, it's good to notice Gabriel's particular instructions -- actually, they are commands -- to the couple and Mary. These things cannot be left to their hunches, whims, or creativity. 

We do well to suppose the LORD has very particular assignments for each of us. Who is so clever, or has sufficient wisdom, to know what our precise roles might be in God's plan? Only God can see beyond the horizon what will come next. Saint Paul gave us the right question to ask of God, as did Saint Francis, "What would you have me do? 

And finally, our Father Abraham set the example for every saint of every age. Hearing the LORD call their name they said, "Here I am! Amen! So be it! Fiat! Be it done to me according to your word."