Annunciation - Mission Possible - Why? How?

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23 & 24, 2023

2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 Rom 16:25-27 Lk 1:38 Lk 1:26-38

Pre-Homily:

After I wrote my homily and printed it, as I was getting ready for Mass a thought came to mind, and again I was struck by the thought as I read the Gospel to you just now.  And that is what Gabriel said: “for nothing is impossible with God.”

This brought to mind the once popular T.V. series which became a popular movie series called “Mission Impossible” where Ethan Hunt is given a message which begins with: “your mission, should you choose to accept it…”  Ethan has a choice to accept or reject the mission, as do we because of free will.  That is also true for Mary.

Though nothing is impossible with God, we still have free will.  Mary had to accept with her yes, God’s “Mission Possible.”

Homily:

Have you ever asked God “Why?” or “How?”  Of course, we all have.  “Why Lord, why is this happening?”  “How can this be that you are allowing this to happen?”  “How is this all going to work out?”

This can and often is a very common response in our human condition when things happen in our lives that we were not ready for, that we’re not anticipating or expecting.  Getting a flat tire on the road when we’re already late for an appointment.  The furnace or heater breaking down on the coldest night of winter.  The air conditioner breaking down on the hottest day of summer.  Who of us have not experienced something similar in our lives? And to make matters worse, with regards to the timing of these situations, maybe we’re also not prepared financially to deal with them, adding to our experience of “this could not have happened at a more inconvenient time for us.”

Naturally our response to these situations might be to question God and ask “why?”  “Why Lord, why is this happening now?”  The reality is that tires, furnaces, heaters, air conditioners don’t last forever, eventually over time they are going to wear down and breakdown.  Yet, knowing this we often do not prepare in anticipation of this happening, and we seem to be caught by surprise. 

Now in the Gospel of Luke we are presented with two back-to-back stories of what could be described as unplanned pregnancies, which we refer to as Annunciation stories; that of John the Baptist which we read on June 24 on the Feast Day of his nativity, and of Jesus which we heard in today’s Gospel reading. 

The stories have similar elements.  The Angel Gabriel tells both Zechariah and Mary “Do not be afraid.”  Why?  Because he is a messenger of the Lord who has come to bring good news, glad tidings about the birth of their sons and there is nothing to be afraid of.  Then both Zechariah and Mary ask a similar question of “how?”  Yet only Zechariah appears to be punished for asking the question by being made mute until John’s presentation.

Wait a minute, that does not seem fair.  Why is Zechariah seemingly punished for asking “how?” and Mary is not?  The reason is the disposition of faith in the intention of the questioning.   

Zechariah questioned the possibility of Elizabeth being able to conceive because they were both old and advanced in years beyond the biological possibility of them being able to conceive.  And so, he exhibited doubt, and unbelief upon hearing the news:  His questioning came from a lack of faith. Then the Angel Gabriel blessed him with the gift of Holy Silence by making him mute.  But that’s a topic for another homily.

As for Mary, her question expresses, not unbelief, or even doubt, but an innocent surprise of what is to happen, which she accepts with implicit faith.  It was more of a question of astonishment and wonderment.  Naturally wondering as to the method of fulfilment.  She understood the biological experience needed for one to become pregnant.  Since she has had no relations with any man, how is it that she can conceive and become pregnant?  What’s the plan?

The Angel Gabriel then explains to Mary that the Holy Spirit will descend upon her, that the power of the Most High will overshadow her.  It is in this way that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God.  With that Mary acclaims: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to thy word.”

It is in this way that we are called to live out our lives, be it in times of an unplanned pregnancy, or an unplanned illness, or an unexpected or untimely death of a loved one, or any situation we may encounter on our journey in life that we are not fully prepared to deal with.  To live with a hope that God has a plan for us, for the situation we are in, that goes beyond our understanding.  To walk by faith and not by sight.  To place our trust in the Lord.

And as we enter this short fourth week of Advent, let us then remember that Advent is a season of hope and expectation.  Knowing that in all things, God has a plan for us.  That from the beginning of time, and since the fall of man beginning with Adam and Eve, God’s plan has always been for us to be reconciled to him.  That, as it is proclaimed in our first reading from Samuel, His kingdom will endure forever.   That, as explained by Paul in our second reading in his letter to the Romans, we may come to know and experience it by faith and obedience.  And as expressed by Mary’s fiat in our Gospel reading, with a patient and longing expectation, we are called to participate in by our consent. 

That in all things, whatever we may encounter or be confronted with in our lives, be it expected or unexpected, planned or unplanned; may we be able to, with the same fervent faith that Mary has, “for ever sing the goodness of the Lord” as expressed in our Psalm, and acclaim with Mary as in our Gospel Acclamation: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  AMEN!