In the movie "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," Willie Wonka, a chocolate baron, holds a contest to find a worthy successor to his factory and fortune. He selects five children, and only one demonstrates the humility and kindness that he is looking for.

In today's first reading, King David decides that he needs to build God a new house. "Here I am living in a house of cedar," he says to himself, "while the ark of God dwells in a tent!" So he sets about planning to build a spectacular temple.

Not so fast, the Lord tells David through the prophet Nathan. "Should you build me a house to dwell in? It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock," God says. "I will fix a place for my people Israel….I will raise up your heir after you…Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever."

Nathan makes it pretty clear that, though God may appreciate the gesture, David does not need to concern himself with building God a new house. God is the one who will be doing the building --- building and sustaining the house of David and the people of Israel.

God is the one who does the creating, building, and providing. David's suggestion that he build God a house would reverse the roles, and make David God's caretaker. That's not the way it works. God does not ask us to tend to God's needs.

It's a good thing, too, because we would never be able to do it. It would reduce God to something more like the gods of mythology and idolatry, a vain ruler in need of fawning and flattery. God has no needs that we can meet. God has infinite love and generosity, and creation is the means of expressing it.

Today's Gospel reading tells the story of the announcement to Mary that she will bear the Christ child. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary and says "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.… You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." Mary is understandably bewildered, and can only answer "May it be done according to your word."

We're not told why Mary was selected to bear the Christ child. One thing is certain, it wasn't the results of some kind of contest or competition. Mary is an ordinary person living in a small town. She is chosen out of the grace and generosity of God, whose love for humanity is about to overflow into human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Mary did not decide to build God a house, and try and impress God with her great works. Rather, she received God with honesty and humility, allowing the grace and love of God to be revealed through her.

We are called to do the same. Advent reminds us that we are called to be part of the process of bringing the love of God into the world. While that might seem like a daunting challenge, it doesn't need to be.

We don't need to impress God with heroic feats of spirituality and gestures of devotion. We don't have to build God a house. We need to come to God empty and open, like Mary, and allow God to enter the world through our ordinary lives.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.