4TH WEEK OF ADVENT

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) reading might call to mind familiar images we see in statues and paintings: Mary, calm and serene, with her head bowed in humility, accepts God’s will for her life. She will become the mother of the Messiah. But we should never forget that though she was sinless, Mary was still human. She still had real emotions just like ours.

Take a closer look at Mary’s reactions to the angel’s appearance and his message. She is “greatly troubled” at first and questions how she could possibly conceive a child when she is a virgin (Luke 1:29). The angel answers, but it’s not hard to imagine Mary still having questions, and maybe even some fears, after he left her. Surely she grasped that being the mother of God was not going to be easy. She probably began to think about the problems this unexpected pregnancy could cause with Joseph, her family, and her community. This was not a path Mary expected, and though she accepted it in faith, she still had to walk the path—even when the road became rocky.

We too are going to have mixed feelings when God presents a path for us that is different from the one we expected. Having to move across country and leave family behind. An unexpected pregnancy. A child who rejects the faith. God understands that these situations may make us fearful, angry, or disappointed. He knows that human feelings are not sinful in and of themselves, and so he gives us space to work through them. He also promises to be with us and help us so that we don’t allow our emotions to get out of hand and lead us down a sinful path.

Emotions are temporary, but God is eternal. He is always with you, even when you face life’s unexpected twists and turns. So try your best to stay close to him as well. Seek out his grace when the unexpected happens. You may not see blessings right away, and they may not all come to pass in your lifetime. But like Mary, you can always trust that God knows the right path for you, and he will help you follow it.

“Lord, I want to be your servant. In every challenge I face, ‘May it be done to me according to your word’ (Luke 1:38).”

Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24:1-6
Luke 1:26-38