Isaiah 7:10-14 / Luke 1:26-38
One of the great themes of Advent is this theme of fulfillment.
It is the fulfillment of a prophecy, as well as the fulfillment of a promise.
In the 1st reading, when the prophet Isaiah prophesied to king Ahaz about the sign that God will give, it was for that particular situation in time.
But that prophecy was also a future event that would be fulfilled 700 years later.
The prophecy in both cases was about the salvation that was promised by God. Yet the promise of salvation can also be accepted or rejected.
Mary accepted the promise of salvation even though she had her questions about it. But she believed, hence the promise was also fulfilled in her.
On the other hand, king Ahaz rejected the promise. He relied on other powers to save him in that time of danger.
Christmas is also a time of fulfillment of the promise of salvation.
Jesus came to save us from the punishment due to our sins.
How we welcome Him depends very much on how aware we are of our sins and on our need to be saved by Him.
When we know how awfully our sins are destroying us, then we will see the great love that God has for us by sending His only Son to save us. That is His promise. He will fulfill it again and again. Let us believe and accept it.