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Reflection: In the first reading, David has great plans for how he will honor God. His plans to build the temple are good and even in accordance with God's will. They weren't in God's timing, though, and God wanted the temple to be built by a king of peace rather than a king of war. David had to accept serving the Lord the way the Lord wanted to be served by David. Likewise in the Gospel, Mary is busy serving the Lord obediently in every detail of her life. Then she gets a visit from Gabriel informing her that God wants a different service from her. After a brief re-orientation, Mary gives a most beautiful and exemplary reply, "May it be done to me according to your word." Whatever God wants, she would do. Whatever God wants, David would do. Whatever God wants, we would do. In my own life, God has been quite firm about redirecting me. When I tried to be an astronaut, God said, "No." My flying days in the Air Force were enjoyable and educational anyway. I applied for about 200 full-time professor jobs and God kept me from all of them. (Most by not getting the job, some by other circumstances.) I have taught on the side and enjoy that, too. I've also sought to become a priest, for the foreign mission field and in academia, seriously entered into an honest discernment process twice, and it wasn't me who said, "No." God very clearly told me that He has other plans for me - a tougher, less pleasant life, but He'll be there to see me through. That course is running for elective office. Therefore, I'm a candidate and from now until November will be exciting and interesting. It's not a path I would have chosen, but obedience to the Lord's will lead to a much better (though unforeseen) service for David and Mary. May it be done to me according to His word. In
Him,
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II Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
1 When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest
from his enemies on every side,
2 he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
3 Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the
LORD is with you."
4 But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
5 "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me
a house to dwell in?
8 "Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this
to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
9 I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies
before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
10 I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may
dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue
to afflict them as they did of old,
16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall
stand firm forever.'"
Psalm 89
Romans 16:25-27
25 Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for
long ages
26 but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command
of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of
faith,
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel - Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee
called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary.
28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting
this might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favor with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name
him Jesus.
32 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,
33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there
will be no end."
34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations
with a man?"
35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old
age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to
me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Revised/reviewed December 21,
2002