Christ the Cornerstone

Mary responds to the gift of God’s love by sharing it with us

“Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel” (Is 7:14).

Mary’s response to the astonishing news that she was to be the mother of Israel’s long-awaited Savior was completely unselfish. She did not think about her own needs or about what people would think of her unusual pregnancy.

Instead, St. Luke tells us that she set out “in haste” on a difficult journey to the town of Judah “in the hill country” to help her older cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child (Lk 1:39-45).

Mary is often seen as a contemplative, someone who waits patiently and who ponders the mysteries of her life in her heart.

Yet, the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent shows us a side of Mary’s personality that can only be described as “active.” Mary is a doer and a helper as well as one who waits in joyful hope for God’s will to be accomplished in her. That’s why Elizabeth, the grateful recipient of Mary’s generosity, praises her, saying, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45).

Mary is the fulfillment of ancient Old Testament prophecies about the birth of the Savior. She exemplifies the both/and that is so prominent in Catholic teaching. She is both humble and distinguished—unique among all women. She both reflects carefully and acts decisively. She is both the Mother of God and the faithful missionary disciple of her Divine Son.

The first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent from the Book of Micah reflects the many ancient prophecies that Mary is called to fulfill:

“You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the Earth; he shall be peace” (Mi 5:1-4a).

From obscurity, a region “too small to be among the clans of Judah,” will come the “one who is to be ruler in Israel.” Once the woman chosen to give birth to God’s only begotten Son has accepted her absolutely unique role in salvation history, the Messiah will come and take his rightful place as the Shepherd of God’s people and the Prince of Peace.

Mary’s “yes,” and her willingness to trust in God’s Providence, set in motion both the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery that caused our redemption. Mary is both the calm recipient of God’s grace and an active participant in the history of our salvation. She is one who generously shares the abundant gifts that God has given her, and in the process, she enriches the lives of all who call on her loving protection and care.

The second reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent from the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 10:5-10) speaks of the divine will that Mary accepted freely: “Behold, I come to do your will”

(Heb 10:9) reflects Mary’s “Behold I am the Lord’s handmaiden. Be it done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). By this “will,” the Letter to the Hebrews says, “We have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10).

Mary speaks for us, but she also invites—and challenges—us to respond as she did. Mary inspires us to wait patiently for the coming again of Jesus. She also urges us to act now in thanksgiving for the gifts we have already received from her Son—most especially his gift-of-self to us in the holy Eucharist.

At the conclusion of every Mass, we are told to imitate Mary by going forth to love and serve the Lord with joyful hope as missionary disciples of Jesus. We are commanded to share Jesus’ abundant gifts with others, and to be both contemplative and active in our eucharistic adoration.

As with Mary, our waiting in joyful hope is not meant to be simply passive. We are also called to be alive and passionate in sharing the gifts we have received with others.

As we observe the final days of this holy Advent season, let’s ask Mary to help us both wait patiently and act decisively as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ her Son. †