Advent Reflections
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
By Stephanie Firth ’23
Today’s reading begins with the book of Isaiah, where God is pleading with King Ahaz to ask for a sign from the Lord. King Ahaz refuses, to which Isaiah responds by saying “is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?” Isaiah goes on to explain that the Lord will provide King Ahaz with a sign, by having the virgin conceive and bear a son, naming him Emmanuel.
As Catholics, we may often struggle with the idea of asking the Lord for a sign. The principle of humility is particularly present here at Saint Anselm College, and we may not ask our God out of the fear that we are not being humble enough, and that it is selfish to ask for a sign. However, it is important to understand that asking God for signs in our life is crucial to building our relationship with Him. By doing this, we are showing our God that we trust in Him. The Responsorial Psalm is “Let the Lord enter, He is the king of glory.” This follows the same theme as the reading, by explaining to us that we need to let the Lord into our lives, and communicate with Him. Letting God into our lives will help guide us through the journey that is our life.
The gospel today tells the story of the angel Gabriel being sent from God to talk to Mary, the virgin wife of Joseph. The angel Gabriel explains to Mary that she will conceive a son and name him Jesus. Gabriel says that Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High, and that his kingdom will have no end. Mary is confused, how can she conceive a son without having relations with a man? Gabriel says to Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and Mary declares that she is the handmaid of the Lord. It is Mary’s trust in the Lord that we must adopt into our lives. Although the troubles we face and crosses that we bear are most likely not like an immaculate conception, but nevertheless we must remain faithful and loyal to God, our Lord and savior. To remain loyal and faithful, we must let the Lord into our lives through prayer, acceptance, and grace. As we enter the final days leading up to Christmas, let us reflect upon our faith. What is our relationship with God like in this present moment? How can we let God deeper into our lives?