WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20, 2023.
WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B
Isaiah 7: 10-14
Luke 1:26-38
COOPERATING IN GOD’S WORK OF OUR REDEMPTION
Three times a day, we pause to pray the angelus devotional prayer. And each time we pray the Hail Mary in the rosary we are reminded of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. These prayers are great times we reflect on the great work of salvation that our Lord Jesus undertook for our salvation. Yet, at the same time, they reminds us of the needed cooperation for our redemption to be fulfilled.
It tells the story of God coming in our flesh to save us and that through the message of the angel, it also reveals to us that we cannot be saved without our cooperation.
In the annunciation story of the gospel of today therefore the Lord seeks the will of our mother Mary to be the instrument that will bear the Saviour of the world in her womb. This is a special grace she has received. Even though it is beyond her comprehension and understand, yet her permission and willingness is sought and gained.
So the angel Gabriel announces to Mary the intentions of God to use her as the “tabernacle” for the coming of his Son Jesus Christ in human flesh and blood. That her womb will bear, nurture and grow the child Jesus. She was to be the mother of God in human language. And she has been found worthy, prepared, separated from the world and made clean for this purpose. The greeting “hail full of grace” addressed to Mary was enough to make her never to think less of her unworthiness. It is all God’s doing.
That the plans of God are right and fulfilling is sure. But all that is needed at this point is her confirmation to consent and accepting and giving her consent to the plans of God. Since it is a fulfillment of the promises of God as revealed in the book of Genesis, the promises made to Adam and Eve, then to Abraham, Moses, the prophets down to David. That David may know that God’s promises are rightly fulfilled as in the first reading.
The Saviour of the world to be incarnated in the womb of Mary was for the salvation of the world. He is the new sacrifice, the one to redeem his people through his own blood and no more shall the blood of goats, sheep or animal which had no efficacy be used again.
Mary’s consent is key and crucial to the fulfillment of this plan of God. And so it was that Mary consented and gave her fiat. She said, “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you said be done to me.” This is the high point of the celebration. That there is a cooperation to the grace and plan of God.
And this is what we are also called to accept and conform as Christians. We are called to cooperate with the grace of God, to give our consent to divine plan and guidance. To answer to God willingly and faithfully the best we can. To cooperate with the grace of God demands the submission of our will and powers and our all. It means total surrender of ourselves to God.
Having the desire and push to accomplish the demands of our God and actually submitting totally to it is key to the life of grace in Christ Jesus. Mary teaches us through the annunciation story that we must give all our hearts and will to the salvation in Christ. That will bring about our salvation and eternal peace.
Heavenly Father, as our Mother Mary submitted in her fiat to the your demands to bear Christ in her womb and give birth to the Saviour of the world, we beg you to grant us same disposition to submit our will to do all you desire in our lives. Give us same love and sincerity of heart to cooperate with you for our salvation and eternal happiness through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
