Advent. IV.2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom. 16:25-27; Lk. 1:26-38 

The FBI agents conducted a raid in a psychiatric hospital in Santiago that was under investigation for medical insurance fraud.  After hours of reviewing thousands of medical records, the dozens of agents were terribly hungry.  The chief in charge of the investigation called a nearby pizza parlor with delivery service to order a quick dinner for his colleagues. Here is the recorded text of the conversation.

Agent: Hello. I would like to order 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of soda. Pizza Man: And where would you like them delivered? Agent: We're over at the psychiatric hospital, and we are all FBI agents, and since we have locked the front door to help our operations, you will have to go around to the back to the service entrance to deliver the pizzas. Pizza Man: A group of FBI agents calling from the psychiatric hospital that I should come with 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of sodas through the back door? Agent: That’s right, and it is very urgent. We've been here all day and we're starving. I have my F.B.I. checkbook right here. Will you show up soon? Pizza Man:  I don't think so. Agent: Why? Pizza Man:  Because last week it was President Obama who ordered pizzas from that psychiatric hospital for his White House staff! I shall ask your doctors to give you stronger medicines to ward off your F.B.I. hallucinations and to help you sleep well.  Bye.”

That's kind of what Mary was feeling as she listened to the angel spell out what God wanted of her: "Virgin birth?! Are you crazy? Who's going to believe that? I'll be stoned to death as soon as the neighbors see I'm pregnant! Dear God, what are you asking of me?"

The Angel told Mary two humanly impossible things: that she would conceive and bear a son; and that Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. When Mary expressed her doubts, the Angel reminded her that "nothing is impossible for God."

Then Mary remembered all the Old Testament  accounts of humanly impossible things that God had done for his people. In order to liberate the Israelites from the bondage in Egypt, God had performed many miracles.  Moses turned the water of the river into blood (Exodus 7:17). Moses smites all the borders of Egypt with frogs (Exodus 8:2). Moses sent darkness in all the land of Egypt for 3 days (Ex 10:22). The first born of the Egyptians were struck by God. Moses made the red sea divide into two and make a way for the Israelites to pass through. Even after they had settled in the Promised Land God continued his mighty deeds to protect his people. Every Israelite child grew up listening to the mighty works of God; and every Israelite child was taught that nothing is impossible for God.

Mary cannot understand how virginity and maternity can go together. So she asks: How can this be? (Lk 1:34. The Angel explains that virginity and maternity do not contradict each other; on the contrary, thanks to the Holy Spirit, they integrate perfectly together. Not that she understands it better now, but that is enough for her, for the prodigy will be God's will: “With God nothing is impossible” (Lk 1:37). Hence, she answered: Let it be done to me as you have said (Lk1:38). Total acceptance of God's Will, half groping, but unconditionally.

Like Mary there are people in every generation who believed in the impossible and did the impossible with God’s help. Jesus said: Without me you can do nothing.

Tony Melendez was born without arms. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicaragua to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. "I didn't feel comfortable," he explains, "I could use my feet so much more." 

His proficiency with his feet extended to more areas than just day-to-day care. He remembers, "At first, I started playing push-button organ. Then in high school I began playing around with the guitar and harmonica." He also began writing his own songs. Whether it was "playing around" with music or merely adjusting to a normal high school routine, Tony never let his handicap get in his way.

Tony has travelled across the United States and sixteen foreign countries, making countless television appearances. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Tony Melendez has one main message: with God, all things are possible. And he proves exactly that with unbelievable guitar playing ability, using nothing but his feet.  

British missionary William Carey’s famous quote is, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God”. It is very meaningful to those who have received a special challenge or calling from God. Like Mary and Joseph, we may be called on at any time to walk a path for Him that has rarely, if ever, been walked before. It may come in the form of bearing great suffering for oneself and for others. We must teach our family not to fear “surprises from heaven,” but to face them faithfully and obediently. God desires not the skill of our hands but the love of our hearts.  

In this Mass, Jesus will prove once again that nothing is impossible for him. He will shatter the limits of time and space to become truly present in the Eucharist, nourishing us in Holy Communion with his holy body, blood, soul, and divinity. If we believe he can do that, then he can do anything. As we do the immediate preparations for Christmas, lets place ourselves before God like Mary and believe that with God nothing is impossible and accept God’s challenge to do the impossible.