Lk 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
“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.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 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. 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; for nothing will be impossible for God.” 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.
Reflection
ALLOWING GOD TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR US
Thanksgiving is evoked by the realization of how much one has been a recipient of God’s manifold blessings and signs of love, especially the gifts of life, family, friends, material riches, and forgiveness. The person thus feels the need to show gratitude to God by doing something in return.
The desire to “do something in return” is seemingly in King David’s heart when he expresses—in our First Reading—his desire to build God a house, a temple. God chose and anointed him king to replace Saul; the Lord helped him conquer his enemies and win the hearts of his people and establish his kingdom unopposed.
To such a fervent desire, we expect commendation from God. But no, the Lord rejects David’s plan to build him a house: the whole universe is God’s and God is content with dwelling in a portable tent. No, it is not to be David who will do “something great” for the Lord; it is the Lord who has something much greater for David. The Lord promises David a great name, a steady and safe dwelling for his people, a house. In the end, David can only bow down in praise and thanksgiving for the wonderful promises of the Lord on his behalf.
This promise to David is fulfilled in the Gospel (the Annunciation). This time, the recipient, the one through whom the promise is fulfilled, is not a king but a lowly parthénos (virgin) from Nazareth, Mary. As the Lord promised David a great name, a great offspring, and an everlasting kingdom, so now the angel Gabriel says to Mary: “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” (vv 31-33).
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
