Gospel for December 20 2020 – Luke 1:26-38
Gospel Reflections for December 20 2020
It’s a different Advent this year.
Last year at this time I am sure you were looking forward to a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year, but Covid events have changed everything, and bring up new questions too.
Will the vaccines work? How will the economy recover? What will the new President do?
You have already learned a lot in these last ten months. Who would have thought that the Center for Disease Control or Dr. Fauci would be household names? Their decisions affect millions of lives here and throughout the world.
The medical, economic, and political issues facing our world are huge but most of them are simply out of your control. It can be a disappointment and challenge to feel like you are just a spectator on the sidelines with nothing to do. Perhaps you would feel better if there was something you could actually affect or change about all these complex events.
God certainly takes Mary by surprise in today’s Gospel. I am sure she thought that her year would be the same as the last, just like so many of us today. Everything would be different now. In this remarkable Gospel story, the Angel Gabriel reveals that God has a “vaccination plan” for sin and for our health and eternal salvation, a decision that will also affect billions of lives. But unlike how you might feel today, God puts Mary directly in control!
God’s plan of salvation requires …Mary’s full and informed consent. God never imposes His will on anyone even if it involves eternal salvation. He always respects your human dignity and freedom by inviting your free and informed cooperation with His grace.
Mary is no spectator on the sidelines watching things happen. She even has questions about the plan and the Angel patiently responds to all her concerns. It is only when Mary understands that she then accepts her role, and the plan for our salvation goes forward.
There is so much in the world today that is out of your control but you have complete control of God’s grace for you. Like Mary, you can say, “No,” or you can say, “Yes.” Your openness to God’s grace always makes good things happen.
Your freely given consent welcomes the powerful presence of God in your life and assures that this next year will be better than the last!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for your insight. I thank God that I can still receive the body of our Lord everyday. Fr Joe at St. Rose in Simi Valley has given us the opportunity to have mass outside and streams the mass to the patio. If we didn’t have Jesus in our lives, we would be in an arid desert starving for His spiritual food. Have a blessed Christmas
Yes, thank God for St. Rose!
Love your Homily and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee saying YES to the precious gift of grace Our loving God gives us!!!Happy Birthday our Jesus of love!! What a beautiful gift you are Jesus from our loving Father to us!!! We will live in love and make the world beautiful in your love!! We loveeeeeeee you our precious Jesus!!
Marry Christmas father Dave and to everyone!!!! with so much loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franc and Dick
Thank you!
Fr. Dave, thanks for reminding me that even in these crazy times I still have control over what’s most important because I have “Complete control of God’s grace” for me!
Larry,
God bless, and Merry Christmas!