Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
The cold gray days of winter have officially arrived in Ohio. Many people (myself included) have a sense of exhaustion. The anxiety and sorrow of the pandemic, the racial and political division of our society and the physical isolation from our quarantine seem to create a barren landscape that adds to the darkness of these winter days. Today’s scripture readings, however, give us reason for hope and joy. Hannah and Elizabeth believe in God’s promises and bring new life into the world. As we anticipate Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth, God is reminding us that the promise of new life is for all of us. We must remain hopeful and faithful to God’s promise, so the Spirit of God can bring new life to us and to our world.
In both the Old Testament and Gospel readings, the story focuses on women who are barren- without child. In these stories of God’s love, Hannah and Elizabeth receive good news from an angel that each of them will conceive and bear a son. These babies will be “consecrated to God” and “great in the sight of God.” There is a promise that these children will become men of God that bring deliverance and prepare “a people fit for the Lord. “ Both women said yes to God’s grace, and their offspring (Samson and John the Baptist) become instrumental in bringing people back to God. In both men it is the power of the Spirit that brings about this transformation and new life.
In many ways, there is a “barren” part of our lives that God desires to call for new life. The angel tells Zechariah,
“Do not be afraid, because your prayer has been heard.” God reminds us that we should not be afraid. Even in the bleakest of situations (an elderly couple not having children), God is able to bring about new life. This story of God’s mercy to bring about the birth of John the Baptist confirms that God’s love and compassion is greater than we can imagine. The emptiness that so many people are experiencing today is not beyond the love of God, and God desires to bring new life out of the nothingness.
Just as Hannah and Elizabeth, we must trust that God will fulfill the promise to bring transformation and new life through the Spirit. This “new life” will have different expressions in each person. For some, new life might be a healed relationship, for others it might mean letting go of a failure from the past that God has forgiven long ago. Some people might find new life in accepting the challenge to take on a new task or role that they previously thought was beyond their reach. Each of these situations can open up opportunity for growth and newness, but none of these can be accomplished without the grace of the Spirit.
In one week, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Mary provides the perfect example of openness, trust, and faith in God through her “yes.” Her acceptance of God’s promise brings about the birth of the Son of God. Jesus becomes the “way, the truth and the life” for us to return to God. As we wait this week, we are invited to spend time in prayer trusting that God desires to bring new life to the emptiness in and around us. By placing hope in God’s promise, allow the Spirit to bring healing, peace, courage and love to the areas that require grace. May we allow God to fill our barren world with new life, so we can bring more faith, hope and love to our families, parish, community and the world.
Loving Father, Jesus comes to us to bring new life for our weary world. May His incarnation inspire us to grow in our love and trust in You. Send down Your Spirit so we may be vessels of new life for our world. May our lives proclaim your greatness through all that we say and do. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN.
Marylynn Herchline