December 21, 2008 Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Rom. 16:25-27; Lk. 1:26-38 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings: http://www.catholicdoors.com/homilies/2008/081221.htm   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________     In spite of all the impossible situations we have ever faced, we are reminded of the answer to the greatest, "Impossible!" of all times through the annunciation narrative. When the impossible hits – and when the impossible thing has impacted our lives, broken our hearts and shattered our dreams, the message comes to us, "...nothing shall be impossible with God."   There is a process with three steps that occurs in the gospel story today.   1. First the impossible situation comes. This is where most people give up. This is where we throw up our hands in defeat or crash in despair.   2. The second step takes place when we hear – really hear – the good news. Which is, "Nothing… shall be impossible… with God! The impossible thing confronts us and like any normal human being we are frightened, angered, depressed or any number of other emotions that can leave us crushed and in despair. However, if we stop and listen for the still small voice within, we hear the good news that nothing shall be impossible with God.   3. The third step in this process of moving from the impossible to the miraculous is contained in Mary’s response to the news that nothing is impossible with God: "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." The key that unlocks the miraculous action of God in Mary's life is believing. It takes a listening spirit to hear the good news of God. It takes a believing heart to actually receive the good news of God. Believing is the thing that makes God's heart glad above all other things. In believing the good news, we not only listen, but we decide to trust the word of God’s good news. "Let it be," Mary says, "according to your word." Believing is not the simple intellectual acceptance of a creed, but the joyous receiving of God’s promises – God’s word – as though the thing were already accomplished.   The heart of Christmas is indeed receiving. Not the receiving of the gifts we give to each other and to our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbours. Although that kind of giving and these kinds of gifts are significant. But the central Gift to be received is the Gift God has given to us in Christ. Though the season of Christmas will retire to the end of the calendar once again, I pray that the heart and the Gift of Christmas will remain. I pray that through believing we will continue receiving the hope, strength and courage that takes us through those times others would call… "Impossible!"   <<   Previous: Third Sunday of Advent  | Next: Christmas >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year B)