Dear Parishioners,
On this fourth Sunday of Advent we read in Luke’s Gospel, of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. We reflect upon Mary’s example of faith and obedience to God, traits which permitted her to receive the angel’s message that God’s Son would be born as a human person, as one of us.
The story of the Annunciation tells us of God’s wondrous action in human history. God chose a human person to give birth to his Son so that all humanity would know God’s salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our salvation. Thus Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and also fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. The Gospel is also an invitation to us all to say yes to God’s call and to show by our lives that, in Jesus, God becomes Emmanuel—God with us.
This year we all have faced so much chaos and uncertainty. The peace of Christ is something we need to onto more than ever. May God’s spirit transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time to joyfully await our King!
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16
God’s Blessings
Fr. Cyrus
