Christian Reflection and Prayer

Fourth Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first three candles of the
Advent wreath.]

After the angel came to Mary and told
her that she would conceive the child
in her womb and would call him Jesus,
Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your
word." (Luke 1:38)

And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has
scattered the proud

   …He has brought down the powerful
from their thrones

     …He has lifted up the lowly

       …He has filled the hungry

         …He has provided for the poor
(Luke 1:46-55).

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah,
herself a single, teenage mother, herself poor
and powerless. But she understood that the
baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just
to her, but to the world…
…To the hungry
   …To the weak
     …To the very young and the very old
       …To those who suffer or are in pain.

[Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.]

We light this fourth candle to remember Mary,
the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle
also remind us that the light of Jesus shines
for everyone.

COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN