2 Samuel 7: 1-5; 8b-12, 14a; Romans 16:25-27;Luke 1: 26-38
One simple, three letter, one syllable word – “YES.” And despite it being a simple, three letter, one syllable word, “YES” is one of the most powerful words in our vocabulary. “YES” can make things happen. “YES” can change lives. A man and woman say "YES" to their marriage vows and the two become one. A man and woman say "YES" to life and they become a father and mother and their lives are never the same. Elected officials vote "YES" and nations go to war and countless lives are affected. A man says "YES" on the day of his ordination and his words are able to transform simple bread and wine into the presence of Christ. "YES” – simple, three letters, one syllable, but oh so powerful!
Across the heavens an angel races to Nazareth. “Do not be afraid . . . All things are possible with God,” he announces to a virgin. And sweeter than the song of an angel is her response: “YES . . . Let it be.” And this “YES,” uttered by a girl no older than fourteen years of age, living in a nondescript village in Galilee, was one of the most powerful words ever spoken in all of history. Her “YES” brought forth something truly marvelous. So marvelous, in fact, that we have been celebrating what happened because of her "YES" for more than 2,000 years.
In today’s Gospel we hear how the angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce she had been chosen to give birth to the long awaited Messiah. In response, Mary proclaimed “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Mary said “YES” and Christmas happened.
Today, God asks things of us. God asks us to live lives of mercy, when it’s so much easier to harbor grudges. God asks us to love, when it’s so much easier to put a wall of indifference around ourselves to protect us from being hurt. God asks us to feed the hungry and thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger, to look after the needs of the ill, when it is so much easier to look out for our own self-interests. God asks us to live simply, when the American dream is one of material success and pleasure. God asks us to be counter-cultural and live the values of the Gospel, when it’s so much easier just to go with the flow. God asks us to be peacemakers, when revenge is oh so satisfying. Saying “YES” to God? Easier said than done.
So what do we need to do to be able to open ourselves say “YES” to God? We need to do what Mary did.
- We need to BE READY & PREPARED. What are we doing to prepare ourselves for when God calls? Are we serving others, are we praying daily, are we reading the Bible, are we surrounding ourselves with faith-filled people?
- We need to BE LISTENING. Our lives can get so noisy. We can get so distracted. Are we making time and space for quiet and solitude so that we can hear God when he speaks?
- ]We need to BE OPEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY. If we look at all of those in Scripture that God asked things of, whether it be Noah, Abraham, Moses, Kind David, Samuel, Mary, the Disciples, St. Paul, to name only a few, I think we can conclude three things about saying YES to God:
- IT MAY BE HARD.
- IT MAY BE UNPOPULAR.
- IT MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
BUT if we say “YES” to what God asks of us, then good things happen. God’s kingdom grows a little bit more visible in our world. God’s compassion and love touch the hurting. Jesus Christ takes on flesh in us and continues to walk this earth.
Our “YES” to God in things both big and small makes good things happen. Our “YES” to God, makes Christmas happen today. It allows us to share Mary’s vocation in bringing to birth Emmanuel, “God with us.” For like Mary, our “YES” allows Jesus to be born into our world anew, not for one moment in history, but every day and for all time.
Simple. Three letters. One syllable. "YES.” A powerful word indeed!
