Homily

In the Movie, The Lord of the Rings, Frodo expresses his apprehension by telling Gandalf that he wish the ring of power and the adventure it created had never happened. Gandalf tells him, “We cannot choose the time we live in. We can only choose what we do with the time we are given.”

Today’s Scriptures offer us two powerful illustrations of persons who were called by God to obedience: King David and Mary. They serve as models for us. You see, God has a plan for each of us. He has given us gifts and talents, and we are being called to express those gifts. My question is, are you willing and ready?Or does your doubt, fear, or pride get in your way of God’s plan in your life?

David was given a gift, a time of “rest from his enemies from every side” (2 Sam 7:1). God reminded him of all that he had done for David. While David may have been tempted to think that he was in control of his life, it was ultimately God who set things in motion to make it happen. And so, David is then told that his house will last forever. This likely puzzled David as he could not fathom how his house or kingdom could last forever even after his death. But we can see, centuries later, that God was not talking about a physical building nor David’s personal power to rule. Instead, we know that God was speaking of a spiritual dynasty that would be given to the hearts of his descendants.

Mary, our second person given to us by the Church on whom to ponder, was also given a calling. She also pondered on how God could accomplish his plans through her in what seemed to be impossible. She was given some very poignant advice from the angel: “Do not be afraid” (Lk 1:30). She listened and obeyed, and through her then came the Messiah for all humanity.

God has called each of you and has a plan for you. The next question is, are you willing and ready? Mary, while she expressed her wonderment at what the angel was telling her, ultimately subjected herself in obedience to God’s will. She didn’t ask for a sign or proof. She didn’t intellectualize it until it made sense to her. Nope. She just obeyed. When God makes dramatic overtures or encounters in your life, what do you do? Do you avoid the encounter? Do you demand full disclosure before you acquiesce? Do you continually question it ad nausium? Do you put God into a box and ask questions that have a select number of predetermined answers by you, answers that will satisfy you? Are your questions all about you, your plans, your future, your will? Or do you trust that God will handle it and work out the details that you cannot figure out? Are you willing to let God be God and you be his servant, like Mary?

God has placed you in this world. He has placed you in a particular family, in a particular time in history, with a particular personality, a particular set of parents, a particular set of brothers and sisters, and a particular set of gifts. All of these things God has done for you. We have not been given any choice over these things. But, we can choose what we do with the time we are given. David and Mary chose to obey God. Will you?