There are four days left until Christmas and, on this last Sunday of Advent, God’s infinite benevolence meets Mary’s total docility and openness: she who, before and better than anyone else, said yes to God. Following the example of the Virgin Mary, may we too feel gently urged to pronounce our joyful and obedient “yes” to the Most High.
Texts taken from the missal “On Your Word” – November-December 2020.
4th Sunday of Advent (B)
4th week, alternate cycle
FIRST READING
From the Second Book of Samuel (2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16)
When King David had settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, he said to the prophet Nathan: “See, I dwell in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells under tent cloth.” Nathan replied to the king: “Go, do whatever is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: “Go and tell my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house in which I may dwell? I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, so that you would be leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went; I have destroyed all your enemies before you, and I will make your name great, like the names of the great ones on earth. I will appoint a place for Israel, my people, and I will plant them there so that they may dwell in their own place and never be disturbed again, and so that evildoers will not oppress them as before, as they did from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord announces to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your offspring, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom will be firm forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” – The word of God.
Commentary on the First Reading
This text does not seem easy to interpret. What house, throne, kingdom, and descendants are being indicated? Is it speaking about David, his history of difficulties and successes, or is it referring to someone else? In reality, an important clue is offered through the question: “Would you build me a house in which I may dwell?” In light of this question, the prophet Nathan, who hears God’s voice directly, as well as David and then the reader, have all the elements needed for a deeper understanding. David and his story become signs of God’s benevolence and faithfulness, even though they are marked by human sin. Indeed, through David’s descendants, Jesus, the Father’s only-begotten Son, is given to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the true house of God is none other than the Church, while David’s temptation is to believe that he has made it, more powerful than ever, to the point of being able to build a house to contain God, who is most high and infinite. Jesus Christ, the Savior, is about to be born: only he is whom we must await.
SECOND READING
From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans (Rom 16:25-27)
Brothers and sisters, to him who has the power to strengthen you according to my gospel, which proclaims Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for eternal ages, but now manifested through the writings of the prophets, by command of the eternal God, made known to all the nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever. Amen. – The word of God.
Commentary on the Second Reading
The second reading presents us with the final lines of the Letter to the Romans, an important and content-rich letter. After his greetings, Paul wishes to offer a profound and authentic hymn of praise, giving glory to God, the Lord who can strengthen us in Christian doctrine and practice, even in spite of persecution; the God of Jesus Christ, who has given us the Good News through the apostle Paul. When he writes “my gospel,” he is not claiming it improperly, but humbly acknowledges that God does great things even through those who would never expect it. He was Saul, in fact, and had plans of persecution completely opposed to God, yet he was freely transformed and converted into Saint Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles: now he cannot help but honor God with his whole being. The praise and glorification of the Lord continue with the contrast between “silence” and “revelation”: this is the “manifestation” of that “mystery” inaccessible to human beings by their own strength, but given also to us in Christ who is born.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Coming to her, he said: “Rejoice, full of grace: the Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know man?” The angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. –
The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel of the Day
God’s infinite benevolence meets Mary’s total docility and openness: she who, before and better than anyone else, said yes to God. The Mother of God is one of the decisive protagonists of Advent. I do not know whether we are still capable of being astonished that a girl, a woman, should be called “Mother of God.” If God is eternal in time, infinite, and almighty, how can a woman truly be his Mother? The disciples of the first centuries passionately explored this question because they understood that the integrity of the mystery of Jesus, her Son, was at stake. A first step consists in affirming that Mary is truly and fully the Mother of Jesus. Then we must believe that Jesus Christ is truly human and truly God, with no possibility of separating the humanity and divinity of the Son of God. Therefore, if Mary is truly the mother of Jesus Christ, we must affirm that Jesus Christ is both human and God, and thus recognize that Mary is the Mother of God! All of this is fundamental to our possibility of salvation: in Jesus’ humanity and divinity, through Mary, we are mysteriously given a share in the life of the divine family.
