Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today's Mass Readings

Wouldn’t it be great if things that we want to happen happened the way we want it and when we want it? Wouldn’t it be great if we had greater control over our lives? Wouldn’t it be great if somehow we could influence God’s will for us? Take me, for example. I began my process for permanent residency in the United States last September. Many of you remember that I could not visit my parents when they met with an accident because I would not be able re-enter the country. Don’t you think that by now I should have received my green card? I was hoping it would be a Christmas gift. But then, when was the last time I had any influence on anything that has gone on with my life? For that matter, when was the last time you had total control of the events of your life? If only God would follow our blueprint! If only God could consult with us! If only we could talk to God and get some answers! Today’s readings present us with two stories. The first is the story of David and the other is Mary’s story. Let me suggest how I read these stories.

In the first story, David, only the second King of Israel has just given the kingdom some stability. The borders are secure and David builds himself a new palace. The Ark of the Covenant, however, was in a mere tent. David is troubled by this fact. How can the Ark be in a tent while he lives in a palace? He decides to build a temple for God. Normally, one would admire David for his desire to do something good for God. But if we go a little deeper, does it not seem ridiculous that a mere human being could think that he could build a dwelling place for God? As if the most magnificent structure we build could hold the power and majesty of God! The whole world is God’s temple. I do not want to be unfair to David because David’s intention was good and holy. But God wanted David to learn that he must live by God’s will rather than the opposite. And so God’s action is meant to put David’s thinking in line with God’s will. Thus, God tells David that God would build a house for David instead.

In contrast, in the Gospel reading there is Mary. Unlike David, she was not from a royal family and did not live in a free nation. Her nation was occupied by the Romans. She was poor and the last thing she could do was build a temple for God. Rich like David or poor like Mary, God can use any person according to his intention. The angel came to her to make known God’s intention. God was not going to ask her to build a temple. Rather, God asked her to “become” the temple. She carried in her womb, the Son of God. In ways David never could, Mary surrendered her will to God totally for eternity.

Three practical implications:

1. God created us with human intellect and will. Using these two faculties, we can take responsibility for our lives and make crucial decisions. Thus we often reason out the best course of action for our lives. But sometimes, guided by our God-given intellect, our will and God’s will seem at odds. David wanted to build a Temple for God. He wanted to be responsible for his own destiny. He even made decisions for God. Mary too used her intellect and she knew that it is impossible to give birth to a child without relations with a man. Both David and Mary face the kind of turmoil that we face each day. In our intellect and will we know how things should go for us. According to my plan, I should have received my green card three months back. However, the real challenge, like Mary, is that using our intellect we surrender our wills to God. “Let it be done to me according to thy will” (Lk 138). God does not us want to give up our intellect. Rather, like Mary, our challenge is to freely bring our will to confirm to God’s will.

2. Second, surrendering our will to God is a great act of faith. Surrendering our wills to God makes the future look uncertain. Surrendering our will to God makes us lose control over our own lives. That is why David was more comfortable of making decisions concerning God’s temple. Mary on the other hand gave up that control. In fact, once the angel left her after the annunciation, her life took her in directions that she of her own accord, perhaps would not choose. It was only her undaunted faith that constantly kept her faithful to her original surrender. Praying “Thy will be done” is a huge risk. If we have not taken the time to build our faith then we may find our lives at odds with God’s will.

3. Third, in both these stories there is good news. Two people who completely surrendered their will to God brought about the greatest good. When I look at Mary’s life microscopically, I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for her. Her day to day life must have been a nightmare. As a mother she suffered much for Jesus. But if I take a bird’s eye view of her life, then I see that it was all meant for something greater that we could ever imagine. Jesus too, surrendered his will to God. As a result death itself was conquered. I know you are busy getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But what about our wills? If we find the faith to surrender our wills to God, God can accomplish much more that we can ever imagine.

Christmas is not the only story that celebrates the union of human and God’s will. This Eucharist is another story that celebrates the perfect alignment of God’s will and human will. As we receive Christ in the Eucharist, let us also surrender our will to the God who saves us. May we find the faith to surrender our wills like Mary did. Amen.

- Fr. Satish Joseph