The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate how the response of Mary, when she learns of her mission as mother of Jesus, is connected to the prompting of the Spirit in our lives.
In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah gives Ahaz the Sign of Immanuel.
* [7:14] Isaiah’s sign seeks to reassure Ahaz that he need not fear the invading armies of Syria and Israel in the light of God’s promise to David (2 Sm 7:12–16). The oracle follows a traditional announcement formula by which the birth and sometimes naming of a child is promised to particular individuals (Gn 16:11; Jgs 13:3). The young woman: Hebrew ‘almah designates a young woman of marriageable age without specific reference to virginity. The Septuagint translated the Hebrew term as parthenos, which normally does mean virgin, and this translation underlies Mt 1:23. Emmanuel: the name means “with us is God.” Since for the Christian the incarnation is the ultimate expression of God’s willingness to “be with us,” it is understandable that this text was interpreted to refer to the birth of Christ. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 24 is a prayer for entrance into the Temple.
* [Psalm 24] The Psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the Temple. The Temple commemorated the creation of the world (Ps 24:1–2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Ps 24:3–6; cf. Ps 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very Temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Ps 24:7–10). (Psalms, PSALM 24, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of Jesus is foretold.
* [1:34] Mary’s questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angel’s declaration about the Spirit’s role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God.
* [1:36–37] The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God. (Luke, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Angela Maynard thinks Mary and Elizabeth too, are excellent models for us. The faith and trust they had in God’s plan are truly remarkable. This was only the beginning of Mary’s journey of trust in God. Think of the scary times to come…the flight into Egypt, the loss of the child Jesus in the temple and ultimately the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
As a mother, I cannot fathom the magnitude of these events. Yet, through it all Mary remained a steadfast servant of the Lord. As we approach the birth of our Savior, let us remember with gratitude the faith Mary had in God. During times of doubt, go to Mary and ask for strength, guidance, and perseverance. As we move into a new year, I’m hopeful we can each grow in our faith and trust in our Lord.
Merry Christmas to all! (Maynard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus is Son of God and Son of Mary,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"We should carefully note the order of the words here, and the more firmly they are engrafted in our heart, the more evident it will be that the sum total of our redemption consists in them. For they proclaim with perfect clarity that the Lord Jesus, that is, our Savior, was both the true Son of God the Father and the true Son of a mother who was a human being. 'Behold,' he says, 'you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son' - acknowledge that this true human being assumed the true substance of flesh from the flesh of the Virgin! 'He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High' - confess too that this same Son is true God of true God, co-eternal Son forever of the eternal Father!" (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.3.22) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:26-38 comments that while we are in our own seasons of waiting, we can look to the numerous examples of God’s faithfulness throughout Scripture. Just as he was faithful to bring forth a Messiah to redeem his people, he will not forget us. He knows the deepest desires of our hearts and the needs we face every day. When we read these stories, he wants us to remember that he will be faithful and that we can trust him in our times of waiting.
Today, take some time to reflect on God’s faithfulness in your own life. Ask him to help you trust him with whatever you are facing. You can be sure that he hears your prayers and that he is walking with you through every situation, giving you strength to wait for his faithfulness to be revealed.
“Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to all generations.” (Meditation on Luke 1:26-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler describes the situation facing Ahaz during the siege of Jerusalem. The translation of language resulted in “maiden” becoming “virgin” in Greek. The use of the Greek perfect tense in describing the grace of Mary is connected to the Immaculate Conception. Friar Jude reminds us of the act of surrender that accompanies Mary’s place as the new Ark of the Covenant.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Madeleine L’Engle (1918–2007), who was a devoted Christian who perceived God’s presence in all things and circumstances. Here she invites readers to join her awe-filled observations. L’Engle honors the unique role that Jesus as Christ plays in creation.
Don’t try to explain the Incarnation to me! It is further from being explainable than the furthest star in the furthest galaxy. It is love, God’s limitless love enfleshing that love into the form of a human being, Jesus, the Christ, fully human and fully divine.
Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, Christ, the Maker of the universe or perhaps many universes, willingly and lovingly leaving all that power and coming to this poor, sin-filled planet to live with us for a few years to show us what we ought to be and could be. Christ came to us as Jesus of Nazareth, wholly human and wholly divine, to show us what it means to be made in God’s image. Jesus, as Paul reminds us, was the firstborn of many brethren [Romans 8:29].
I stand on the deck of my cottage, looking at a sky full of God’s children, knowing that I am one of many brethren, and sistren, too, and that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Bathed in this love, I go into the cottage and to bed. (Rohr, 2022)
We are presented with trust and surrender as a response to the action of God in our lives.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/7?10
Luke, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?26
Maynard, A. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122022.html
Meditation on Luke 1:26-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/20/557517/
Psalms, PSALM 24. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Rohr, R. (2022, December 20). God in the Galaxies and in Humanity — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-in-the-galaxies-and-in-humanity-2022-12-20/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec20
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