In the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties, it can be difficult to trust in God’s plan. Today’s reflection reminds us that God often works in unlikely ways, and invites us to renew our “yes” to God as we welcome the Infant Christ.

December 22, 2024: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C‍

Micah 5:1–4a

Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19

Hebrews 10:5–10

Luke 1:39–45

Blessed are You Who Believed: Saying “Yes” to God’s Impossible Call

A reflection by Carter Fahey

Back when I still considered myself an atheist–before I ever went to Mass or knelt down to say a prayer–I memorized the prayers of the rosary. I don’t know what compelled me to do this; surely, it could only have been God's grace and Our Lady's intercession.

On the long train journey between Boston and Cleveland, I listened to all four mysteries, falling into the rhythm of the unfamiliar prayers, repeating them until they seemed inscribed into my very being. Something about the prayers fascinated me, even though I didn’t believe in the God they proclaimed. I found real beauty in the fact that Catholics looked up to the Mother of God in such a profound way, and could appreciate the impact of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection through her eyes. Mary’s “yes” to God was inspiring, and I wished that I, too, could dedicate myself to a cause with such trust and certainty.

As time wore on, though I remained a staunch atheist, those prayers continued to surface in my mind, and Mary’s “yes” remained firmly imprinted in my soul. Finally, I decided that I should go to Mass just to satisfy my curiosity. In a sweltering basement chapel in Boston’s humid mid-summer, I was dazzled by a glimpse of God’s glory and pronounced my fiat. It was like seeing the world with new eyes–everything reflected something of God.

I spent the next two years trying to find my place in the Church, which seemed determined to deny me. It’s not that I felt any contradiction between Catholicism and my queer identity–they’re two threads within the same tapestry–but it was obvious to me that I was being asked to go further, to dedicate my life to God. I recognized that my experiences gave me a unique perspective within the Church and that I needed to use that position to help others. I was beginning to learn that saying “yes” to God is not a one-time event, but a continual choice. What I felt, but didn’t yet have the vocabulary to describe, was a vocation—a call from God.

This was made clear shortly after I arrived in Oxford. Walking home from adoration with a friend one night, we discussed what our ideal lives would look like. Upon hearing my description of a life of prayer and study within a community, she turned to me and said, “Carter, it sounds like you’re describing religious life.”

This was a shock to me, and I tried to deny it. How could I, a transgender man who had only been Catholic for a few years, be called to religious life? But the more I tried to avoid it, the more insistent the call became. Like Jeremiah, I could not deny the fire burning in my heart and trapped within my bones (Jer. 20:9). I finally accepted that I am called to dedicate my life to God’s service, even though it seems like an impossible vocation.

But impossible vocations are common in scripture. Does God not so often choose the unlikely? A shepherd is chosen to be God’s anointed. The small town of Bethlehem is chosen as the birthplace of the ruler of all creation. A young woman, not yet wed, is chosen to be the Mother of God. A man who dedicated his life to persecuting Christians is chosen to spread the Gospel. We are all called to play a part in the mystery that is God’s plan, however unlikely it may seem.

As we come to the end of this season of waiting, now is the perfect time to recall this reality. God is about to come into the world, and we have spent the past few weeks preparing our hearts to welcome the Infant Christ; how fitting to joyfully renew our “yes” to God as we celebrate Christ’s birth!

We must pronounce this “yes” even when it seems we are beset with tasks beyond our strength or up against impossible odds. We do not face these challenges alone; God so loved us as to come to us in Jesus, who will “stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord” (Mi. 5:3). We do not have to rely on our own powers; Emmanuel does, after all, mean “God is with us” (Mt. 1:23).

If we, like Mary, continue to say “yes” to what God asks of us and live out Christ’s teachings, we will surely overcome whatever challenges we face. The path we are called to follow may be difficult, but we do not walk it alone.  As we hear in today’s Gospel, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk. 1:45).

So, as we approach Christmas, take heart in God’s Word. What has been spoken to us–the gospel of Love and Truth–will be fulfilled, if only we welcome Christ with open arms and declare our “yes” with joy and faith.

Carter Fahey (he/him) is the Associate Editor of Breath of the Spirit and is currently studying at Oxford. He is a convert and has an interest in doing outreach work to Catholic communities to combat misinformation and create opportunities for community among LGBTQIA+ people.