THE
FRUIT OF THY WOMB.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
YEAR B.
December 21, 2008.
(First reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16) (Psalm 89:2-5, 27-29)
(Second reading: Romans 16:25-27) (Gospel: Luke 1:26-38)
THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB.
The angel of the Lord said to Mary:
"Behold, you will conceive in your womb
and
bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus".
(Luke 1:31)
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Our human experience shows us that our
best fruits are the product of our best efforts.
As we approach Christmas, our
Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary teaches us to be as fruitful as she is.
She becomes "the handmaid of
the Lord" (Luke 1:38) in
order to give humanity the fruit of her womb: Jesus.
She makes it possible for God to become a human being.
As we approach Christmas, our efforts must concentrate on becoming like
Mary so that we may be able to bring God
to the world.
How can a human being bring God
to the world?
At first, this might seem impossible, for even Mary herself needed to
ask the question: "How can this
be, since I have no relations with a man?"
(Luke 1:34). This question is not an expression
of doubt concerning the power of God, but rather it is a recognition
of our human limitations.
Let us ask the same question with different words:
How can it be possible
for a human being to bring the God of
absolute peace and justice and mercy and compassion to a world plagued
by sin, injustice and destruction? At first, this might
seem to be impossible.
Then comes the answer from the Angel of the Lord: "...
Nothing will be impossible for God" (Luke
1:37).
That is the hope and the reality of Christmas, which Mary gives to us
as the fruit of her womb; that is the hope and the reality we, human
beings, must give to the world as the fruit of our wombs.
Yes, we need strength
in order to bring the God of justice and peace and mercy to the world.
Saint Paul in his Letter to the Romans tells us: "[God]
can strengthen you, according to [the] gospel and the proclamation of
Jesus Christ... made known to all nations"
(Romans 16:26).
Mary listened to the voice of God and gave her
consent.
Like Mary, we must listen
to the voice of God asking us to bring forth to the world the fruit
of our womb (peace, justice, compassion, unity, respect for human dignity)
and then, we must give our consent
for God to do his will through us.
As Christmas time draws near, let us rejoice in Mary who gives us the
example as to how to bring our best fruits to the world for she is about
to show us the fruit of her womb: Jesus.
"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord
is with thee,
blessed are thou among women and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb: Jesus".
