“It was the will of God,” a senior catechist remarks after a court case in which he sought justice for his deceased family members was dismissed. The 2007-2008 Kenyan post-election violence left him a widower and homeless. For years, he had struggled seeing the people who destroyed his property and killed his wife roam freely in the environs of Timboroa, Eldoret, in Western Kenya. He now totally submits to God the greatest sorrow of his life with strong words of faith as he seeks to forgive. He remains steadfast in his ministry as a catechist serving and living with the same people who caused him this extreme pain. It is through such human experiences that the Gospel of this Fourth Sunday of Advent speaks to us eloquently.

In the Gospel, Mary totally submits to the plan of God by saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your word.” With those words of faith, the incarnation of the Son of God becomes a reality. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. She avails herself for God’s plan of salvation to reach its ultimate stage.

At our religious profession, we join our YES with that of Mary. We avail ourselves to God in total obedience and availability to conceive and bear Christ in all aspects of our lives of service. We become men with hope to bring, and through us the mission of making Christ known, loved, and served is a reality.

As the Advent Season comes to its culmination, let us ponder on the will of God in our lives and accept it according to His plan, trusting we are God’s servants with complete faith in Him.

Deacon Alinaitwe Douglas Godfrey, C.S.C., is a member of the Province of East Africa. He professed Final Vows on August 30, along with seven other seminarians and two brothers from his Province. Deacon Alinaitwe currently serves as the Youth Chaplain at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Tamboroa, in the Diocese of Eldoret in Kenya.