“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.” (LK 1: 26-27)
The angel Gabriel, who “was sent from God,” perfectly knew where (“to a town of Galilee called Nazareth), when (“in the sixth month) and to whom (“to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary”) to go. God knows everything about us because He cares. He knows our past and present and wants to help us to fulfill our future based on His will.
“O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” (LK 1: 17)
Advent is an amazing time for preparing ourselves for our meeting with the newborn baby Jesus. We need to prepare our hearts and invite Him to stay there. God is very humble, choosing to be like us. Our answer is to do everything possible to prepare ourselves to be “a people fit for the Lord.”
“O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (MT 1: 20-21)
Our Lord is coming. We started counting the days of His arriving with the beginning of Advent, but especially this week is a direct preparation for His birthday. Every day we are focused on the mystery of His presence among us. He is coming as our Savior—“to save his people from their sins.” We are under His protection. We are loved.
“O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.” (MT 1: 17)
The Bible reminds us that God is the only Lord; He created this world, He redeemed this world and still protects it. Every generation is close to His heart: when we are at home or when we are in exile, we are His beloved children.
“O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.” (PHIL 4: 4-5)
Our motives to rejoice don’t come from circumstances or from our daily successes; the motive is one: “the Lord is near.” Joy is His gift and comes from His presence in our lives. Our response to this is our kindness.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.” (SIR 48: 10)
God’s providence takes care of everything. Every one of us received different missions and different roles. We do need to know details: when, where and whom we will serve, but for sure in Heaven, we will see what our mission was.
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” (IS 48: 17)
It happens that we pray, ask God for something important to us, but God does not answer. The reason is: “the Lord, our God, teaches us what is for our good, and leads us on the way we should go.” Our Lord knows better what is important, where we should go and what is God’s plan for us.
“The Lord will come; go out to meet him! He is the prince of peace.” (Gospel Acclamation).
“I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” (IS 41: 13-14)
Our Lord is with us. He is with us not to condemn us, but to help us. He always reminds us: “Fear not, I will help you.” This is why He came to us: to help, to lead, to redeem and to save us. He loves us.
“Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.” (LK 1: 39-40)
Our Lady is always where we are in need. She comes to comfort, to help, and to assist; She comes to advise, to correct and to lead. She is an answer for many our questions; She is like the star in the night sky which leads us to Her Son when we are in darkness.
“Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” (IS 40: 1-2)
We have difficult days when we feel abandoned, rejected or misunderstood. We desperately need somebody who can comfort us and bring some hope to our lives. Our God knows it perfectly and tells us today: “comfort, give comfort to my people.” It could be your spouse or one of your children; it could be your coworker or a friend; it could be someone you know. Our Lord opens our eyes to see where we are needed.
“The day of the Lord is near: behold, he comes to save us.” (Gospel Acclamation)
