"Let it be with me according to your word"
Luke 1: 26 - 38
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122020.cfm
One of the most beautiful and enduring pieces of music is a grand masterpiece by the English composer George F. Handel entitled “The Messiah.” After sweeping orchestra, chorus and solo parts which begin with the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah, Handel take us from the birth of Christ, to his life, passion, death, resurrection (Hallelujah!) and ends with a grand harmony on the second coming of Christ at the end of time. I personally feel the work was inspired.
If you have never heard the
entire work done professionally by choir and orchestra buy all means go! We often think of the great “Hallelujah
Chorus” sung with great fanfare towards the end of the piece. The chorus, accompanied by trumpet and drum, proclaims in glory the moment of
the resurrection of Christ. While we may feel that should be the end, the story goes on for a bit more.
But how would you appropriately end such a masterpiece? With the grand tone of trumpets? Yes, but this timeless work concludes with simply one word – “Amen.” Yet that “great” Amen goes on for nearly four minutes as the chorus and orchestra move the listeners with the longest and most uplifting “Amen” you can imagine. I personally feel it’s a fit ending for such a dramatic story – the story of salvation from the prophets of old to the Incarnation, God’s entrance to our lives, through his dramatic passion, death and resurrection to his return in glory. Amen we may say to all that. “Amen – so be it!” His will is done. We say this word at the end of our prayer and might we also say it at the accomplishment of God’s plan?
This Sunday, our last on the Advent journey towards that
great moment when the Word of God is born in time and space, we hear the
familiar encounter when Mary, the one “full of grace,” is visited by the Angel
Gabriel to seek her cooperation with God’s mysterious plan. On a human level, we cannot help but wonder
what went through Mary’s mind and heart. The Angel as messenger of God, does
not pressure or dupe Mary in any way. He
respects her, compliments her state of soul as full of grace, reveals God’s
desire and hope, then waits for Mary’s response. The Angel comforts and assures
Mary, “Do not be afraid.” What will she say? For a moment creation holds it
breath as one writer stated.
The Gospels are silent on Mary before she appears on this
scene. We know nothing about her
personal life only that she was young, likely around 16 yrs old, was a virgin
yet intending to marry, she lived in tiny Nazareth in the north of Israel where
she was “betrothed to a man named Joseph.”
Nothing especially outstanding about that. She was essentially a peasant
maiden so we can assume that Mary’s hope was to live according to the Jewish
custom of her day and that she intended to live a normal, Middle Eastern,
Jewish life formed by the sacred law of God. God indeed had other intentions
for this young girl.
Mary was caught unexpectedly by the angel’s visit. She was fearful, perhaps more awestruck and
confused initially. Luke implies such in
this scene. Which tells us that this moment, this event was entirely the work
of God. God took the ordinary and transformed it though his grace to something
extraordinary. Yet the true nature of Mary’s hidden sinless character is
revealed in her response. Though she was the Immaculate Conception, no one knew
of that. The angel’s address to her is far beyond mere flattery – “Hail, full
of grace. The Lord is with you.” No name
but rather a profound statement of Mary’s state before God.
Mary finally offers her – “Amen.” So be it – Let it be with me according to
your word.” Mary’s great “Amen” in that
moment changed the course of human history.
Through her total cooperation with God’s request, Mary opened the door
so that God might enter. She surrendered
her entire ego, her future plans, and her very person to the will of God as a
servant or literally a slave of the Most High. Did the Angel smile in response
to Mary’s “yes?” Only she would know.
Handel’s “Amen” ended his grand piece with beauty and
hope. Mary’s “Amen” began for humanity a new relationship that we could once
again be friends with God. Her simple life and trusting faith allowed God to do
his grand “Amen.”
By contrast, our first reading relates the story of King
David, the shepherd boy made a shepherd King, who did not live in the obscurity
of tiny Nazareth but in a “house of cedar,” a rare and treasured wood in
Jerusalem. When David realized that his
comfortable surroundings were grander than where the “ark of God” rested, he
desired to do something about it. But
God spoke through the prophet Nathan and reminded King David that God’s desire
was not to rest in a physical house but that the Lord “will establish a house
for you. . .” and that this “house and your kingdom shall endure forever.” (2 Sm 7: 16). God’s plans were greater than
any house King David might construct; it was ultimately the house of the Church
his Body.
However, that “house” of David was brought to completion
through the line of David and ultimately born in Jesus, the son of Mary. In Jesus’ conception and birth, God alone joined
humanity and divinity forever and that will extend far beyond the line of David
to include us and those beyond our time.
So close to Christmas we are busy about many things for
sure: mailing last minute Christmas cards or finally getting around to shopping
for last minute gifts or final plans on Christmas dinner and family gatherings. All these are good things.
Yet, the readings this last Sunday of Advent offer us a moment to consider God’s intervention or some may say interruption in our daily lives. Certainly for Mary she consented to something that she couldn’t possibly understand fully. Like our lives, God’s plan is revealed day by day. But in the end, we are reminded that it is all God’s work if we allow it to be. God’s grace may be undeserving but our God thinks we deserve it anyway.
Mary’s “Amen” stands as a model for our lives as
well. Where have we seen God operating
in our lives this past year? This
unprecedented year of so many tensions. How often did we say “amen” or did we
doubt or decide otherwise? Christmas is
God reaching down to us. Are we willing
to grasp his hand and walk with him?
“Amen!”
For all the oracles of the prophets foretold him
the Virgin Mother longed for him
with love beyond all telling,
John the Baptist sang of his coming
and proclaimed his presence when he came.
(From Preface Advent II)
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