Homily: Dec 20 2016 - Four short lessons of faith

We hear the annunciation story 3 or four times throughout Advent each year: once on the Immaculate Conception, again on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, depending on the year we might hear it on the 4^th Sunday of Advent, and now, in late Advent every year on December 20^th.

The Church celebrated the feast of the Annunciation nine months ago; nine months, the term of a pregnancy. That Holy pregnancy is coming to term in just five days—that holy pregnancy which is marked by Mary’s deep faith.  As we now imminently prepare for Christmas, let us reflect on four different aspects of Mary’s perfect Advent faith.

First, her faithful “search”. When the angel announces God’s plan, Mary asks, “how can this be?” She does not doubt the Angel’s message, like Zechariah. She seeks to understand God’s plan for her. Each of us do well to search these next few days—to ask, “God, how can I be more faithful to your plans for me? How are you calling me to be more faithful in the concrete details of my life?” 

Faithfulness requires the ardent, patient, and generous search for the will of God and the face of God.

Secondly, Mary’s “acceptance” of God’s plan. Mary’s response to the angel’s message is simply, fiat, “Let it be done.” Her acceptance of God’s will is courageous, she take it up enthusiastically, knowing and trusting that God’s will is her greatest good. In your faith life, where do you need to be more courageous and enthusiastic? Mary abandons herself to God’s will, not with sad resignation, but with joyful openness.

A third dimension of Mary’s faithfulness is her “consistency”—after saying “yes” to God’s will, she begins to adapt her life in faithful obedience to God’s plan. For Mary there is no break between what she practiced and what she believed. Her faith is consistent throughout every dimension of her life. What are the parts of my life where I have yet to conform to God’s will?

Finally, we should emulate Mary’s “constancy”. When we make a new spiritual commitment, it is easy to be consistent for a day or two. But to remain constant in that commitment, day after day, week after week, that is where truly holiness lies. In what spiritual practices am I called to be more constant? All faithfulness must pass the most exacting test: that of duration.

Mary’s faith always points us to the deepest reality of our celebrations. As Mary is semper fidelis, always faithful, may she increase our faith, that we may prepare our hearts well for the Christmas festivities for the glory of God and salvation of souls.