The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine and act on the signs in our life of goodness, truth, and beauty in which we find the Presence of God.
In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, he 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 24 celebrates 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of Jesus is foretold.
* [1:26–38] The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Lk 1:11–12, 26–29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Lk 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Lk 1:14–17, 31–33) the parent objects (Lk 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Lk 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Lk 1:32–33) and Son of God (Lk 1:32, 35).
* [1:32] Son of the Most High: cf. Lk 1:76 where John is described as “prophet of the Most High.” “Most High” is a title for God commonly used by Luke (Lk 1:35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17).
* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Luis Rodriguez, S.J., (in 2017), comments that Mary does not ask for a sign. She does ask a question, yet it is not a question of doubt, but rather a question asking for guidance: how do I go about what you are asking of me?
God is offering us signs in the events and circumstances of our daily living. But, as Vatican II challenges us, we need to recognize the signs –signs of the times– that are already there and for this we need a faith vision. Events and circumstances are only data and they are the same for both believers and unbelievers. Faith vision helps us to find in them a faith meaning, which in turn leads us to a faith response to the same data. (Rodriquez S,J., 2023)
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, 2019)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:26-38 asks us to consider the other times Mary said yes.
As Christmas approaches, spend some time praising God for every step of faith you can recall. Thank him for the grace he gave you to say yes. And thank him for all the good that came every time you surrendered to him!
“Lord, help me to welcome your will in every moment. May each yes bring me closer to your heart and bring you more fully into the world.” (Meditation on Luke 1:26-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler details the situation Ahaz finds himself in as Judah is being threatened and Isaiah urges him to seek a sign from God that will be in the birth of Isaiah’s child who will be named Emmanuel, God is with us. The Greek translation used by Luke refers to a virgin rather than the maiden in Isaiah. The perfect tense used by Gabriel in greeting Mary shows she has always been full of grace. Friar Jude notes the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, the New Ark of the Covenant, in and act of mutual vulnerability and surrender by Mary.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes the transformative power of an incarnational worldview.
In Christian history, we see an incarnational worldview most strongly in the early Eastern Fathers, Celtic spirituality, many mystics who combined prayer with intense social involvement, Franciscanism in general, many nature mystics, and contemporary eco-spirituality. Overall, a materialistic worldview is held in the technocratic world and areas its adherents colonize; a spiritual worldview is held by the whole spectrum of heady and esoteric people; and a priestly worldview is found in almost all of organized religion.
An incarnational worldview grounds Christian holiness in objective and ontological reality instead of just moral behavior. This is its big benefit. Yet, this is the important leap that so many people have not yet made. Those who have can feel as holy in a hospital bed or a tavern as in a chapel. They can see Christ in the disfigured and broken as much as in the so-called perfect or attractive. They can love and forgive themselves and all imperfect things, because all carry the Imago Dei equally, even if not perfectly. Incarnational Christ Consciousness will normally move toward direct social, practical, and immediate implications. It is never an abstraction or a theory. It is not a mere pleasing ideology. If it is truly incarnational Christianity, then it is always “hands-on” religion and not solely esotericism, belief systems, or priestly mediation. (Rohr, 2019)
We ponder the Incarnation and the surrender of Mary and contemplate our own understanding of God with us and our response to love and Presence.
References
Isaiah, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/7?10
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?26
Meditation on Luke 1:26-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/20/853199/
Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Rodriquez S,J., L. (2023, December 19). U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122023.html
Rohr, R. (2019, June 24). An Incarnational Worldview. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-incarnational-worldview/
Schwager, D. (2019, June 24). Hail, O Favored One, the Lord Is with You! Daily Scripture net. Retrieved December 20, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec20
No comments:
Post a Comment