Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
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: 10-14
Once again Yahweh addressed Ahaz, “Ask for a sign from Yahweh your God, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven.”
But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask, I will not put Yahweh to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Now listen, descendants of David. Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The Virgin is with child and bears a son and calls his name Immanuel.
Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
In 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.
REFLECTION:
“Cooperating with God’s plan.”
Advent is a time to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and receive the Gospel as it is announced to us. However, our relationship with the mystery of salvation we are to celebrate does not stop in our immersion in God’s Word and in our reception of the good news being proclaimed to us.
A response of faith is also expected of us. We are summoned to be responsive to the good news we have received.
Today’s Gospel pericope narrates the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to announce to Mary that she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit. She would bear a son who would be named Jesus.
The narrative ends with Mary giving her yes (cf. fiat) to what has been announced to her by angel Gabriel. In every good news that is being announced to us, we are called to respond positively in order to cooperate with God’s divine plan.
In the process, we ourselves will become instruments through whom the good news will also be announced to others. Today, we are called to respond and cooperate with God’s divine plan.
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