Fourth Sunday of Advent
We usually call that
particular gospel from Luke the “Annunciation Gospel” where Mary is told by
Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Redeemer. And if you’re like me so many times we think
that that is just something that happened 2000 years ago. It happened to Mary and perhaps other people
in biblical literature and times. But I
think the reality is you and I have to realize that the annunciation is still
going on today. Everyone of us in our
lives has our own personal annunciation.
A call from God to do whatever.
And how is that going to play it’s way out.
You can think of it this
way, that in each of our lives there are angel Gabriels. People who come into our lives, who walk into
the events and circumstances of our lives and announce to you and me that God
is there somehow, in some way, in some event, in some experience, in a person,
whatever it might be.
This came home to me just
recently in a very powerful way. Over
the last couple of weeks I have been agonizing over so many people calling and
asking for help. We all know the economy
is tough and so many people have lost their jobs. And it isn’t just maybe one person in the
family but now both people have lost their jobs. People are struggling how to buy food, how to
get clothing, maybe even how to have some type of a Christmas for their
children, the cold weather—heat for their homes. And it just seems like people have been
calling the rectory and they seem to end up so much on my plate. And I was becoming overwhelmed with it. And two or three people over the last week
said, “You really seem to be stressed out about all this. What’s going on in your life?” And I’m not one to hide my emotions and
feelings. And I said, “It’s that obvious
huh?” And they said, “Well, ya.” They said, “What’s happening?” And I said, “I’m just, I feel overwhelmed
with all these people asking for help and I don’t know how I’m going to do
it. If I had a million dollars I
probably couldn’t help all the people that needed to be helped in the way that
would be beneficial.”
And so I just kind of began
going into a little bit of a funk. And
just this past week when a couple people mentioned that to me, “You seemed to
be stressed out over this.” And then
within the week several other people came forward saying, “Here’s some
help.” Either they gave me money to help
other people or they were bringing food, clothing. And then I finally realized that, “Grile, you
don’t have to do it by yourself. Who do
you think you are?”
It was really one of those
moments you know, you keep going along, and I imagine a lot of us do. We think everything falls on our
shoulders. I have to get this done. I’ve got to fix it. I have to make it right. And then something happens and finally and
angel Gabriel comes and says, “No you don’t.”
Like Mary will you be
willing to trust. And it got me down on
my knees and I began finally to say, “Get out of your self pity trap, Pat, and
pray. Trust that God will make it
happen.” And it worked. It did.
I came over to church and I
walked around and I saw all of the “Gifts of Love” packages that are still
here. So many already have been taken to
bring to Regions Hospital, the other places that those ministries are going to
bring those gifts. So many are still
here. But I just began to realize that
I’m not in this by myself. Like Mary, I
said, “How can this be?” What am I going
to do?” And the Holy Spirit will come
upon you. The power of the Most High
will overshadow you.
As I began to pray I began
to realize that Gabriel was coming to me in for form of other parishioners who
said, “Here, here are some resources.”
And one of my community members, my fellow Redemptorist who said, “How
can I help carry the load?” And another
person who said, “Do you want to talk about it?” And then I began to realize I wasn’t in this
all by myself.
So who are the Gabriels in
your life? Where are the annunciations
in your journey today? Throughout this
week?
You know it might be in an
invitation from someone. It might be by
a plea or a call for help. It might be
by a donation that you make. A thank-you
that you give to somebody else. It might
be just by a simple gesture of an affirmation for somebody else or a word of
encouragement, that either you give to somebody else or somebody else gives to
you.
You know you go back to that
first reading as I listened to it again this morning. David thought he was going to build a big
temple for the Lord. But God said, “You’ve
got it wrong David. I will build a
temple for you. I will dwell within
you.” That’s what the Incarnation is. God becoming a man, a human being. Coming into yours and my life and saying,
“I’m with you.” All things are possible
for God.
So as you go about you life
in your journey today and throughout this week realize that there are
annunciations going in. Where are they
in your life? Open your heart and mind
to be aware of the Gabriels that may come to you. Or another way too, how you may be called to
be a Gabriel for somebody else.
And then like Mary let’s all
pray, “Lord, may it be done according to Your word. Behold I am Your servant.” The power of the Most High will come upon you
and me. We don’t have to do it all by
ourselves. God’s power and Spirit are
bigger than you and me. Let’s have the
trust as did Mary. Sit back and relax
and know that all will be well, that all manner of things will be well in the
Kingdom of God in our own hearts and minds.