The Church has traditionally viewed John the Baptist and Mary as great Advent symbols. Each of them in different ways captures the experience of humanity waiting for the moment of its liberation. John gave dramatic voice to Israel’s ancient hope when he announced the coming of the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The angel who had appeared to his father Zechariah foretold of John that he would walk “with the Spirit and power of Elijah” and would give knowledge of salvation to God’s people. If John gave utterance to Israel’s hope, Mary in her body gave life and form to the promise that God had sworn to Abraham: that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear. Mary declared herself “the servant of the Lord.” She was about to become immersed in the saving design of the God of Israel and to learn, through experience, that absolutely nothing is impossible to God.