Fourth Sunday of Advent (Luke 1:26-38)

We sometimes distance ourselves from the real encounter in today's Gospel. As Margaret Silf notes, we sometimes “put Mary into a glass case, surround her with flowers, and avoid the personal consequences of this moment”. And there could have been very severe consequences for Mary, even death by stoning. Mary’s yes is an example of completely surrendering to God’s will. She surrenders her motherhood, her entire life to God.

We can think today of those who mother against the odds in our world. In places where there is no food, no clean water, the threat of disease, of torture; those who watch their children suffer from addiction or violence. And we remember those who are the angel Gabriel’s of the world, bringing good news and hope that ‘nothing is impossible’.

“Hail Mary, woman of Nazareth, home maker, cleaner, preparer of food, fetcher of water, God is with you in your everyday excursions in this ordinary town. Blessed are you among women and blessed indeed are women in their everyday lives, in the confines of family life, in the ambivalence of decision making, in the silences and blessed are the fruits of all our labours”. Janet Lees