Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 4th Week of Advent, Year C, December 20th, 2021
Texts: Isaiah 7: 10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38
Many a time man bends on saving himself, trusting in human power and effort inspite of God seeking to save him. Man only gets deep into his trouble as he tries to save himself aside God. That is the historical truth behind today's first reading. At the time the event in the first reading occurred Judah was up against Israel and Syria who entered into alliance to wage war against it. Judah was not strong enough to engage them in battle, so it had the option of seeking help from Assyrian king. However, prophet Isaiah tried to assure king Ahaz of God's saving help; he advised him to stand with God alone and to disregard the idea of getting help from Assyria.
Today's first reading is an attempt to convince king Ahaz of God's saving help. He asked him to ask for a sign to get assurance of God's help. King Ahaz refused to ask for a sign because of lack of trust in God and his willingness to seek human help. This is to tell us that man finds it hard to trust God; man trusts easily in man rather than God. However, God, who always loves his people, gave the king sign. Prophet Isaiah says, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God is with us].” It is a sign because it can only be done by God for a virgin to give birth. If it is something that can occur through natural process, it would not be a sign. This reminds us that only God can turn things around for us; He can do for us what the world thinks it is no longer possible with us. All we need is faith in Him; let us just stand with Him, no matter what. If we are to stand with God we need to have clean hands, pure hearts, and set not the soul on vain things. This is clear in today's psalm: "Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The clean of hands and pure of heart, whose soul is not set on vain things."
In today's gospel reading the sign is fulfilled in the person of the Virgin Mary. It is said, "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin ... and the virgin’s name was Mary. .... And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High". This tells us that no matter how tarry the promise of God, it must come to past one day. This calls to mind the words of Jesus Christ that heaven and earth may pass away, no single of his words will pass away (Mtt. 24:35). This assures us that His second coming is sure. We should always wait on God's promise.
O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel, and so became the dwelling-place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit; grant, we pray, that by her example, we may in humility hold fast to your will. Amen (Collect).
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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