General. The Liturgy reminds us that the day when we commemorate the Incarnation of the Son of God is well-nigh. It was the Angel’s announcement which gave the good news (euangelion) of God’s intervention in human history through the incarnation of His Son whom He anointed (Mashiah, Messiah) as Priest, Prince and Prophet for the salvation (Jehoshua – Yahweh saves, the name of Jesus) of humanity. We now recognize Christ’s salvific mission through His Passion and Death, especially in this Eucharist which leads us to the glory of the Resurrection from all that which is oppressing us.

Second Book of Samuel. The promise which the Lord God made to David finds its fulfilment in God sending His only begotten Son into the world to restore peace between man and God Whom he has abandoned. God loves His people and constantly chases them to rebuild the House in which they can live out their lives with Him in an intimate Father-son relationship. Indeed, for the believer, the Father’s name is Abba – Daddy.

Psalm. The Psalmist recalls God’s unilateral Pact with humanity. He still keeps it, to His word, notwithstanding man’s abandonment of God through his unfaithfulness. Yet the believer, the faithful one, still cries out ‘You are my Father’ and has faith He will ransom him from all pervading evil.

Epistle to the Romans.. St Paul traces back the relevance of the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus, which was hidden to humanity in the silence of eternity, to Scripture and the Prophets. The Bible actually leads us to obedience through faith. Mary’s faith and obedience laid the way for the incarnation which is, in itself, an act of Divine Providence in favour of sinful humanity.

St Luke. The Gospel recount links back to Samuel and the Psalm as to David and the restoration of the House of Israel. The key-word is that for God, all is possible, even that which can not be understood. It takes faith many a time to grasp that in walking God’s chosen path one is fulfilling His will, and rebellion sets in clutching us out onto evil paths. Humility and obedience, however, work wonders if only we can say ‘Let it be done to me according to your will.’

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