This is the fourth time that we have heard this Gospel reading during the season of Advent! On December 8th we heard it for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We heard it again on December 12th for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.We heard it this past Sunday for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and finally we heard it again today. Seeing that this reading has appeared to us on four occasions now in only a matter of weeks this Gospel passage must be very important for us to hear and to understand.
Today's reading from the Prophet Isaiah goes perfectly with this Gospel passage and helps to shed some light upon it. In this reading we are told that "the virgin shall conceive a son and shall name him Emmanuel." The Book of the Prophet Isaiah is located inside of the Old Testament which means that it was written long before the events of the Annunciation. Despite being written prior to this great event it foretells what is to come. In this passage from the Gospel of Luke we see that what was proclaimed by the Prophet Isaiah came to it's fulfillment. Through the events of the Annunciation all that the prophets had proclaimed and pointed towards had come to it's fulfillment. Therefore we are not following some new movement, but something that has been pointed to since the beginning of time.
Mary was the woman who was being revered in Isaiah's passage. She was the one who was chosen by God to be the virgin that would bear a son. In the Gospel reading she humbly accepted what had been bestowed on her from God. This humble woman is the perfect example for us today because she will lead us closer to her son. May we allow Mary to extend her hand to us; as she accepted Gabriel's greeting. She will take us by the hand and will lead us to the peace and tranquility that Is found around the manger of her son.
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