Christ the Cornerstone

Mary’s choice—to welcome Christ into her life—is one for us, too

“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, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:31-33).

God’s promise to the chosen people of Israel was well-known and eagerly anticipated. What was not known was how or when this divine intervention would happen.

When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a simple young woman, he told her some astonishing news. We have heard this story so many times that it has become familiar, but to Mary it must have been unbelievably strange.

According to God’s messenger, Mary, a virgin, would conceive and bear a son and name him Yeshua (God saves). Her Son, a descendent of King David, would be called Son of the Most High and rule forever. Astonishing! Unthinkable! Impossible to believe without extraordinary faith in the providence of God. Thanks be to God, Mary was blessed with a deep and abiding faith. She believed the mystery that was revealed to her by the angel, and she humbly agreed to assume the role chosen for her to become the Mother of our Savior.

The Church presents to us this mystery of our salvation, and Mary’s acceptance of her role in it, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The astonishing truth of the Incarnation is brought home to us each year as we prepare for the Lord’s coming again at Christmas.

Advent invites us to look beyond the present moment to the day when Christ will come again at the end of time—in equally unexpected and astonishing ways. We are challenged to be ready for the Lord’s coming (as Mary was) by our prayer, by our reflection on God’s word and by our selfless service to others.

The first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16) recalls the Lord’s promise to David:

When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. … I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. … Your house and your kingdom shall endure ­forever before me; your throne shall stand firm ­forever. (2 Sm 7:12, 14, 16)

The fact that God had promised that a descendant of David would “rule forever” was well-known to the people of Israel. What was not known was what kind of ruler this long-awaited king would be. This, combined with uncertainty about when, where and how the Anointed One (Messiah) would come, constituted the mystery that the angel revealed to Mary.

According to St. Paul in this Sunday’s second reading (Rom 16:25-27), “the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages” (Rom 16:25) has come to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In him, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise. We believe—after the fact—what Mary came to believe solely on the basis of the word spoken to her by God’s messenger. And because she believed that the word of God was being fulfilled in her, Mary was able to say “Yes” and to immediately sing God’s praise in the Magnificat (Lk 1:46–55).

What does this reflection on Mary’s role have to teach us about preparing for our Lord’s coming again at Christmas? Here are just a few ideas: First, we are invited to imitate Mary in everything we do. Her prayer, her love for God’s word and her commitment to serving others are powerful examples of what it means to eagerly await the Lord’s coming.

Secondly, Mary’s ready acceptance of God’s will for her, in spite of whatever fear or uncertainty she naturally felt, shows us that we do not have to be paralyzed by our emotions. If we can turn everything over to the grace of God, we can say “Yes” like Mary did, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us safe and on the right track.

Finally, it’s important to remember that Mary is here for us, and that she walks with us, as we walk in her Son’s footsteps. God’s love for us is astonishing. His desire to save us from the consequences of selfishness and sin never diminishes—no matter what we say or do. By her presence, Mary reminds us that God is near—now and always.

As we continue getting ready for the Lord’s return, let’s ask Mary to help us prepare for the amazing gift of her Son! A blessed Christmas to all. †