Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year B
18th December 2011

The God who called you will not fail you.

One of the great tragedies of our time is the absence of trust. We distrust authority, each other and ourselves. The wreckage of broken relationship is there for all to see. The difficulty with commitment, particularly life long commitment is a lasting casualty of the lack of trust. Christmas is a story of mutual trust, love and commitment.

God becoming man testifies to a God that trusts His creatures. It counter balances the stories of Genesis. Christmas asks us to move beyond the birthday party to a sense of God trusting us not only with His creation but with His very self in the form of a vulnerable child. The trust level is total. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us". What will be our response?

The spotlight in today's Gospel reading shifts from John the Baptist to Mary, the mother of Jesus. We hear the beloved, familiar story of the Annunciation, and in the words of St Ambrose we await in expectant hope for Mary's response, "Answer, O virgin, ... Speak the word and receive the Word; offer what is yours, and conceive what is of God, give what is temporal, and embrace what is eternal". Her faith, her trust in God is all important if the relationship between God and mankind is to be restored. And to her eternal credit Mary responds "Be it done to me according to your word" Mary's complete trust in God, her openness and acceptance of God's will makes the birth of Christ possible.

Mary's response to God should be an example to us in these last days of Advent, as we prepare for another Christmas!

Let me share with you a few lines from a poem which I read last week. It is entitled "The Art of Keeping Christmas" by Wilfred Peterson.

"How can we best keep Christmas? By rediscovering the faith and simplicity of a little child, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

"By being still and listening to the angels sing within our hearts.

"By quietly evaluating our lives according to the Master's standards as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount.

"By re-dedicating ourselves to the Master's ideas of peace, brotherhood and good will.

"By resolving to give ourselves away to others in love, joy and devotion."

Take some time this week to pull away and let God speak to your inner Child. Rebuild your trust in God, because His trust and commitment to you is for ever. It in turn will strengthen your trust and commitment to others.