Advent is winding down very quickly this year. The 4th Sunday of Advent is the only day in this final week of Advent. It could easily be eclipsed by the celebration of Christmas Eve later that day.
From Sunday morning to Sunday evening, we’ll fast-forward nine months—from conception to birth. The Sunday Gospel is the story of the Annunciation, proclaimed recently on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The key message of this Gospel for me is that Mary said yes—to being the mother of God’s Son and to surrendering to God’s will for her life. We, like Mary, are called to be Christ-bearers in the world. We, too, are called to surrender our lives to God’s will.
Don’t lose the message of this 4th Sunday of Advent or skip over this opportunity to consider the ways God calls you to say yes with your life. Once you’ve done that, go ahead and celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas with an even greater sense of its meaning.
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Thank you, marryChristmas and happy New year!