Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
When is the last time you have set out on a journey that involved some significant preparation or time in order to get ready? I have a friend whose religious order has asked him to take a post in India for three years. He will be changing his community, his career and his culture. As an outsider it seems his whole world is being turned upside down. What I find even more profound is that this priest’s response to the call was much like Mary’s to Gabriel. Like Mary, Fr. Jack’s response has been, let it be done to me and through me according to your word. What is our response when the Lord calls us to undertake such a journey?
Mary having said “yes” goes in haste to be with her relative Elizabeth. I have often wondered what makes her go in haste. I asked a few others why they believe Mary went to Elizabeth in haste. For a few, it was because she needed a different setting to contemplate her, “yes.” For others, it was because she was trying to run away. Another said, Mary went in faith to care for her elderly relative who was now six months pregnant. One other person said, because she was excited for relative who was given a miracle and wanted to go and share the joy and perhaps the fear of being pregnant. That Mary, who in faith said “Yes,” wanted to be with the one person in the world who might comprehend the depth of these events.
Elizabeth knew that something profound was happening to Mary even before words between them were exchanged. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. But more striking to me today is her question, “How does this happen to me that the mother of the Lord should come to me?” How often is it that I encounter the Lord or the Mother of the Lord and fail to recognize their presence? I imagine that they appear quite frequently and ask me to help bring new life to birth. All the while I am looking past them as my heart waits for the call I am expecting, missing the one being offered.
The words from Zephaniah and Song of Songs encourage us to see past ourselves to the God who loves us. Our judgment has been removed, winter is past, do not be discouraged, the rains are over and gone. Shout for joy, arise my beloved, my beautiful one. The Lord has come to renew you with his love. These readings call us to affirm what is happening to us. They call on to transform our patient waiting of Advent into the songs of rejoicing of Christmas. They encourage us to look past ourselves and trust in the one we call Emmanuel.
Loving God, help to us to see Your beauty in everyone. Allow our ears to become aware of your sweet voice calling us to new life. And give us hearts like Elizabeth and Mary that are filled with the Holy Spirit so that through us, You can bring new life to birth. Amen!
-Michael Montgomery