PRINCE OF PEACE

Let it be done.

As I ponder and meditate on the great mystery of the Incarnation during this Advent season repeating the words, "Jesus Prince of Peace come into my heart," I find myself drawn to the mother of the Prince of Peace, our spiritual mother the Blessed Virgin Mary.

What if she had run away, terrified when the angel Gabriel appeared to her announcing the birth of Jesus? She did not.

What if she had said to God through Gabriel, "I already have plans for my life." She did not.

What if she had said to Gabriel, "It is impossible to conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit." She did not.

Let us examine our own lives.

More often than not, we say "No" to God and His plan for our life. We have a tendency to resist surrendering with complete trust, convinced that our plan is good. And to borrow a line from my all-time favorite Christmas movie, all of us have said at one time or another what George Bailey said, "I want to do what I want to do," without even discerning God's perfect plan for our life.

The Virgin Mary said "Yes" to God. Her Fiat - let it be done - was a total surrender to God. No hesitation. No resistance. No pride.

Through her yes, she participated in the incredible mystery of the Incarnation.

Through her yes, the Word became flesh and came among us.

Through her yes, God came down to earth as a baby in silence, humility and extreme poverty.

Through her yes, God revealed His plan of salvation for the world.

Through her yes, Jesus became the face of the invisible God.

God Almighty, Creator of the universe became man to die, to save humanity and open the gates of Heaven for us. Is there a greater love than God's infinite love for his creatures?

Jesus, the Prince of Peace is the only source of true peace in the world. Why is it hard to find and maintain peace? Pride. Fear. Resistance to the holy will of God.

The Virgin Mary found peace when she said yes to God. It is only in doing God's will that we find true peace. It is only in remaining in Jesus, the Prince of Peace that we maintain our peace.