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Let us, then, humbly ask to see how God is working in and through situations we face in our world, in our nation, in our Church, and in our personal lives – whether it is interior darkness, or the conflicts and violence that threaten us, or illness and death, or material and spiritual poverty, or struggles with our faith.

In today’s Gospel, we see how the plans of the Divine Architect unfold. See how the Angel comes ‘to the Virgin Mary betrothed to a man name Joseph of the House of David.

I know you are indeed seeking to travel through the hill country, not merely to get a job done but in the power of the Holy Spirit, to create a culture of encounter, dialog, and cooperation – all in the service of the Church’s mission of evangelization.

As Christmas draws near, the Church listens yet again as the Angel announces to Mary that she would be the Mother of the Savior and rejoices as Mary says those words that unlock the saving designs of God’s heart: “Let me done to me as you say!”

Advent, a friend once told me, is neither fish nor fowl. When I asked him for an explanation, he said that sometimes Advent is presented as a time of penance and purification, not unlike Lent, and at other times, Advent is presented as a time of hope and joyful anticipation.

The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe takes us back to 1531 when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill.

It is a pleasure and an honor to gather with you as we celebrate this Holy Mass with all of you, members of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who come from various countries in Africa either directly or by heritage.

Let us resolve to hear the Church’s Advent proclamation so that we may bear convincing witness to our faith!

We do this year in and year out so as to open our hearts ever more widely to the Lord, seeking to grow in holiness, discipleship, and zeal for the mission to share the Gospel.