Sometimes we all get bewildered by life. Perhaps its something that happened to us personally; or news stories like we have heard this past week. Sometimes we just don’t know why things happen and there seems to be no explanation. And that is certainly bewildering.

On this Fourth and final Sunday in the Advent season, we meet in our scripture reading two people who have experiences that leave them very bewildered.

In the First Reading from the Second Book of Samuel in the Old Testament, we meet King David. He is happily settled in his palace and realizes that the ark of the covenant dwells in a mere tent. So he decides to build a God a fine house like his own. But God turns him down. God has never been confined but rather dwells wherever His people are. Then he goes on to tell David that He will build David and his descendant a house that will last forever. Your throne shall stand firm forever. From the house of David shall come the long awaited savior. You can just imagine how bewildering all that was to this King of Israel.

Then in the gospel we have the famous story of the announcement of Mary's pregnancy and impending birth. A simple but faith filled young girl who is visited by the angel Gabriel, God’s messenger. Luke says she was greatly troubled by this news and wondered what sort of greeting this was. The angel reassures her – Do not be afraid Mary. You have found favor with God. She responds by asking how is this possible since she has no relations with a man. And the most bewildering part: the Holy Spirit will overshadow you and the child will be called holy, the Son of God.

All this disrupts her plans for a normal marriage and family, Mary ponders this baffling event. She gradually comes to renew her trust in God and accepts God’s invitation.

Anytime we ourselves find life bewildering, we too need to renew our trust in God. When life doesn’t seem to make sense and we wonder where the value and merit can be found, we need to take time to ponder the mysteries of God and recognize that in it all, God has a plan. His plan is spelled out for David in our first; for Mary in our Gospel reading; and for each of us as we continue our Advent journey toward the mysterious yet wonder filled birth of our savior.