Dec. 24, 2017: 4th Sunday of Advent B
Dec. 24, 2017: 4th Sunday of Advent B
Where is God in the plans we make? Do we talk to God and ask him to be a part of our plans? This past weekend during a taxi ride from my parents’ home in Dallas to the airport, the taxi driver said that he was more of an agnostic person, and he was skeptical that God could influence his day to day life. For him, making plans about his life does not involve faith or trust in some higher being; his plans are based on a moment to moment whim or desire.
We make plans with good intentions and even with high spiritual ideals. Yet, it may not be in the plan of God. King David planned to build a house for God in the city of Jerusalem. Yet God revealed to Prophet Nathan that God himself was going to build the house and establish a throne of David that would last beyond David’s earthly life. The prophecy came to fulfillment not exactly as David envisioned, but through Joseph and Mary. Joseph was of the lineage of King David, and Mary’s assent to Archangel Gabriel’s message created a dwelling place for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
God’s ways are not our ways. God’s time is not our time. How many times in the past have we questioned God’s plans for our lives? There were events, obstacles, and tragedies that baffled our understanding of how an all-knowing and all-loving God would allow such events to happen. How confusing it must have been for Blessed Mother to hear from the Archangel that God had a plan for her life that she would have never dreamed of? Yet her resolute response, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word," speaks of the essential attitude of trust that we should imitate. She had lived in an attitude of prayer and expectation, and was prepared for a mission still unknown to her. When that crucial moment came, she was capable of trusting and obeying the angel who appeared to her with an incredible message from God.
As we wait for the arrival of the Christ Child this Christmas and welcome the new year, we too pray for an attitude of trust and obedience to accept God’s plans for our lives. May we be open toward the mission which God has in mind for us, when and in whatever way He likes. Let us ask Blessed Mother for the grace to tell our Heavenly Father, “I’m your servant, Lord. May it be done according to Your Will.”
https://youtu.be/R7iekKIQpK0
