Father Michael’s homily on the fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on the Annunciation in Luke's Gospel, highlighting Mary's initial perplexity and disturbance at the angel Gabriel’s greeting. He emphasizes that encounters with God can be unsettling and do not always align with our expectations or desires. Father Michael reflects on various moments in Mary’s life where she was troubled, using these as examples of 'annunciations' that reveal God's presence in challenging times. He encourages Christians to be attentive and open to God’s enunciation in every moment, embracing these experiences as opportunities for growth and transformation. The homily concludes with a reflection on Isaiah 55:8-11, reminding us that God's ways are beyond our understanding, and His word will accomplish its purpose.
Questions for further discussion and reflection
In moments of perplexity and disturbance, how can we discern whether it is an 'annunciation' or a moment calling us to a deeper understanding of God's presence in our lives?
Reflect on a time when an encounter or event that seemed troubling or unsettling at first later revealed itself to be a moment of growth or transformation. How did that experience change your relationship with God?
How can we cultivate a practice of attentiveness to God's presence in the mundane and the extraordinary aspects of our daily lives, especially in moments that challenge our expectations or comfort?
Closing prayer
Gracious and Loving God,
In the stillness of this moment, we seek Your wisdom to discern Your voice amidst the perplexities of our lives. May we be granted the courage to embrace the annunciations You send us, even when cloaked in disturbance or uncertainty. Teach us to remain attentive to Your divine whispers in every encounter, trusting that each experience shapes us more into Your likeness.
Guide our hearts to find You in all things, and in finding You, may we be transformed. Lead us from confusion to clarity, from turmoil to peace, in the knowledge that You are always with us.
