Your Will Be Done

The following is a reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 23, 2023, Week 4 of Advent (Luke 1: 26-38) from Bishop Vincent Nguyen, Eastern Region Bishop for the Archdiocese of Toronto.

We are now in the final days of the Advent season, the time devoted to preparation for the feast of Christmas.

Perhaps, this very last day of preparations can be filled up with many last-minute activities: cards to send, presents to buy, cooking to do, etc. It is wonderful to share the joy of Christmas with others.  But there is the danger that the preparation for this feast might be superficial, materialistic and might even distract us from the real miracle of Christmas.

Perhaps, as a final preparation, we can spend a few moments to reflect on the great gift God has given us, the gift of God’s only beloved Son, the very real miracle of Christmas. 

The Gospel tells us: the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, an event that we honoured nine months ago with the feast of the Annunciation on March 25^th.  With her “Fiat” (“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,”) Mary conceived her child by the power of the Holy Spirit. God took human flesh and dwelt among his people. This is essentially the miracle of Christmas which St. John explains: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3, 16). Indeed, God had fulfilled the promised to His People, sending them the Redeemer. Through the atoning sacrifice on the Cross, we are restored as God’s Holy People, children of God. 

The birth of Jesus therefore is a reminder that God has not forgotten us. It is a reminder of how much God loves us. God has reached down to us so we in turn may reach up to Him with the spirit of God’s children, praising and glorifying Him in thanksgiving for the gift of His Son and the salvation He offers.

The Gospel which we heard also reminds us Mother Mary is very much part of that Christmas story. If we leave Mary out of Christmas, we are in danger of losing sight of who Jesus really is.  The Son of God took human flesh through Mary. It happened because Mary surrendered herself to God. She humbly consented God’s plan, accepting the unique role of being the Mother of God. She bore him and presented him to the world. She is a person who made it possible for Jesus to be in our midst.  

From time to time, especially during this time of preparation for Christmas, God also asks us to surrender to His will and His plans. God also asks us to open our hearts to receive Jesus in our lives, let Him truly be with us.  God also asks us to present Him into the world. God also asks us to bring His love, mercy, salvation and peace to the world. 

Are we willing to surrender ourselves to God as Mary did?  Are we willing to let God come into our life and truly be with us? Are we willing to present Jesus to the world and let it be filled with His love and mercy?

God is patiently awaiting our answers.  Let our response during this Christmas be: Let Your Will be done.

“Let it be done to me according to your word.”