It’s the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we are on the cusp of Christmas and presented today with a very interesting Gospel reading. John the Baptist has done his job and prepared the way of the Lord, and today we hear of the angel Gabriel sent by God to Mary. In the Bible, Gabriel appears four times. Twice in the book of the prophet Daniel and twice in Luke’s Gospel. Gabriel’s job as an angel is as God’s messenger to people on earth, and this was probably the most important message he ever had to deliver. Mary would bear a son and he would be the Savior of the world.

So, what does this Gospel tell us about the coming of our Savior and why do we hear it right before Christmas? Well, it tells us much about how to not only be ready for the coming, but Mary also gives us an amazing model to follow for our own lives. Let’s take a look.

Think about Mary’s life before Gabriel’s visit. She was betrothed as we know, and probably had plans for her life with Joseph – where they would live, how many children they would have… but with that visit, her life was completely changed. She had to have been scared by the visit from Gabriel, so he tells her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Then she hears the stunning message about bearing the long-awaited Savior, and this is where we glean the first part of the model Mary lays out for us to follow in our relationship with Jesus. 

Mary has such trust in the Lord that she says yes to this stunning news. Yes, to turning her world upside down. Yes, to the responsibility of raising a child that is here to save the world. Yes, to marrying Joseph who also will be stunned. Her yes is a model for us to follow and think about if and when we say yes to God in our own lives.

Mary is about focus and trust. We never hear Mary complain or worry about herself, instead she is focused only on her son. Post Gabriel visit, her life became one of complete service to, and focus on, Jesus. You know, her singular focus on Jesus has been written about where she is compared to the moon and Jesus to the sun. The moon doesn’t have its own light, it is lit by the sun and reflects the sun’s light. Likewise, Mary doesn’t want to be the light for the world, her son is that light. She only wants to reflect His light and reflect all the attention onto Jesus. We too need to reflect His light and serve Him, and like Mary, He needs to be the source of our light to others.

Later in Jesus’s life at the wedding feast of Cana, we see that same total focus and trust that Mary had. When they had run out of wine at the wedding, a server comes to Mary asking what they should do and she points to Jesus and says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary trusts and we should too. In today’s Gospel we see that same trust in God when she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

How about us? Do we, “Do whatever he tells you?” Do we ever say, “I am the handmaid of the Lord?”

There is something Gabriel says to Mary that convinces Mary that everything will be OK and that her trust is well placed. Gabriel says, “Nothing will be impossible for God.” 

Nothing will be impossible for God. Sure, we all know that… but do we believe it? Do we believe that the baby born tomorrow who grows up with Mary and Joseph can answer our prayers? Can change lives? Can change our lives?

We need to remember that nothing will be impossible for God when we are suffering, hurt, sad or desperate. Think about the incredible trials, anxiety, and fear that Mary had to endure as she watched Jesus grow, be persecuted, and put to death. Throughout it all, she had this model where she trusted and believed that nothing will be impossible for God. Mary trusted, and we should too. Trust that he will take care of it when we turn to him and say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Trust when we “Do whatever he tells you.” 

That’s why the Gospel message today is so right for us right before Christmas. When we say “yes” to God, when we only reflect his light, when we believe that “nothing will be impossible for God,” we follow the model Mary has laid out for us. And by doing that, he can change our lives… if we but let him.

That baby, that Savior born tomorrow is God’s gift to us. Will we thank him with our own yes?