“What if she said no?”

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent                                      

 December 18, 2011

                                                

                  

 Of all the ways that God could have saved us, ever wonder why He choose to come into the world as a little baby?  No matter His reason, we are nonetheless faced with the reality that God humbled Himself and not only became man, but His entire mission of salvation was placed in the hands of a woman, a young woman in Nazareth named Mary.  Our Gospel this Sunday brings us to the Angel Gabriel, who was sent by the Lord to announce to Mary her special calling in God’s plan of salvation.  Mary was the instrument God chose to come into the world and be like one of us.  After Gabriel’s initial greeting (which should sound very familiar to you), St. Luke describes Mary’s reaction as ‘greatly troubled’.  Who in their right mind wouldn’t be troubled by a visit by an angel?  We’d all be a little scared.  Then Gabriel announces God’s plan for Mary, that she will conceive a child in her womb, and that this child will be God Himself.  St. Luke emphasizes that the conception of this child had no earthly father, rather God the Father was to bring forth this child.  Mary’s response shows us the depth of her faith: She is the Lord’s servant, and He can use her as He sees fit.  This is the response that we are all to have to God.  It is not for us to question God in the sense that we question our trust of Him, but rather we are called to live for Him and conform our actions to His will.  The Blessed Mother, Mary, is our model in faith and our spiritual mother, and this Christmas we should thank her for everything that she did for us.  The question that we should ponder is, “What if she said no?”  Did God have a back-up plan in place?  We have no evidence that He did.  The same is true of the invitation God gives us to share our faith with others.  If we say ‘no’ to inviting someone back to Mass, or to living our faith in trying circumstances, then we may be dropping the ball on the only plan that God has to reach a particular person.  So don’t ever let yourself say that it doesn’t matter if you share the Gospel or not: Christ is counting on you to be His voice to everyone you meet.                               Summary of the Gospel by YM Central

Discussion Questions
1. Describe the scenario of the angel visiting Mary:  What did the angel look like?  Why was Mary so afraid?  What went through Mary’s mind as the angel was presenting her this mission?  What other answers could Mary have given?
2. Using this Gospel, how would you respond to a person who said the ‘Hail Mary’ was not Scriptural? As a group, or on your own, take time to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (added bonus if you can find the Scriptural roots to each of these mysteries).
3.  (As we did last week…and this is the last time I’m gonna ask you) Make it a point this week to invite a fallen-away Catholic back to Mass, and/or to invite a non-Catholic to Christmas Mass. Make a list of at least three people you could invite this week to church.  Have you been able to invite anyone back to Church this Advent? Why/why not? Did they come back to Church? (What happens if you don’t invite these people back to Church?)

Reading 1 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

              When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.” But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus  says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?’
            “It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”

Reading II Romans 16:25-27

Brothers and sisters:  To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Gospel Luke 1:26-38

           The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
        “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.