It is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and we will notice from the Gospel that we are about to remember Christmas. The Gospel is that of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary to announce the Good (GREAT) News that she would be the mother of God; that Jesus, the savior of the world, would be born through her. That is, God would take on flesh through her. What an AWESOME announcement! So why do we think about it today? Because! Okay, well there is more of an explanation that just because. It is to help us remember His origin. In other words, how He chose to come to us, the fact that He chose to come through a human being. He is God after all, He could have come to us any way He wanted. And yet, here is our God, who loves us, coming to us. Here is the announcement of His birth. And what an announcement it is. How many of us had angels come to our parents and tell them that we would be born? Probably for most of us this is not the case. There are however, a few announcements made in the Old Testament and one other in the New Testament (John the Baptist). Here is our God pointing out something important.
So we are hearing the announcement of Jesus’ birth. It is no big deal, right? And yet it is the BIG DEAL!!! Jesus, the savior of the world, is announcing His birth. He is saying that He is coming. Christmas is coming. Are we ready for it? God is pointing this out to us so that we may be ready. Jesus is coming. His celebration of His birth is just around the corner. What a great day for humanity this is. Our God takes on our human nature. He becomes one of us. This is what Jesus is doing for us.
I know, I have said it before, but have we gone to confession? Or do we need to? There is still time. There is still time to make a good confession before His birthday celebration. Our Lord is waiting for us to make room for Him in our lives. Will He find welcome at our homes, or will He be born in someone else's life because they are prepared to welcome Him. It is almost Christmas, be prepared for Him by going to confession.
Fr. Thomas P. Galarneault