Scripture Reflections for Dec.20, Dec.21...Advent
Lectionary # 197:
Poets have a way of getting to the heart of the matter. Maeleine L'Engle
has a great verse that captures the Annunciation event and its effect on
all of us. She does this in a beautiful way that makes us think more
deeply about Christmas and about Mary being the one who brings about the
birth of Christ. We anticipate this as we slowly ponder over the
Annunciation account, which is probably the most important pericope on the
Virgin Mary in the New Testament being both a call and an Annunciation or
revelation passage. We see the youthful virgin's simplicity and her
humility (tapeinosis). Madelein L'Engle's verse helps us understand the
significance of Mary's "Yes" sometimes called her "Fiat" (May it be
done...). The verse reads: "This is the irrational season, when love
blooms bright and wild. Had Mary been filled with reason, there would have
been no room for the child." We see both nature and grace embracing one
another in Mary; we discover faith in tension with reason, and we are
surprised by a God of merciful love who loves us always more than we love
him. Mary's love for God was total and unconditional. She risked in
faith what would happen to her in becoming a mother through the
overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. She consents after dialogue with Gabriel
and then hastens on to bring news to her cousin Elizabeth. St. Bernard is
like the modern poet who in his development of the homily for this event
tries to encourage and cheer on Mary to give her "Yes." He is impatient
with her and tells her the following: " Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in
haste to the angel, or rather through the Angel to the Lord. Answer with a
word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine
Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word. ...There is no
time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. ...Arise in faith, hasten
in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the
Lord,she says, be it done to me according to your word." Amen.
December 21 Scripture: Song of Songs 2:8-14. or Zephaniah 3:14-18. Psalm
33:2-3,11-12. Luke 1:39-45. Lectionary # 198:
The words from the Song of Song may have been what Elizabeth felt in her
heart as Mary approaches her and embraces her with love, warmth, and care.
Both need each other in what has happened to them through the grace of God.
Youth meets an aging one and they marvel at the mystery of life within
them. "Let me see you, let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely." (Song 2). Christian art, literature, and theology
have presented us with this scene of two women embracing each other and
rendering praise and thanks to God. Mary has carefully followed through on
the sign the Angel Gabriel had given her and now enjoys the love of
Elizabeth. They will help each other and pray often together. Elizabeth
waxes strong with amazing words saying, "How is it that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?"..."Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's
words would be fulfilled." One exegete and scholar, a Marianist priest
Joseph Kozar, S.M. says Elizabeth is the first theologian of the New
Testament because of her declarations about Mary. We, as Catholics,
believe that Mary is the God-bearer, the Theotokos, the Mother of God
because Jesus is both God and man. The words of Elizabeth are the closest
the New Testament comes to what the word Theotokos means. At the Council
of Ephesus in 431 A.D. this became the title of Mary in order to help us
understand the meanting of Jesus, Son of God, become son of Mary for our
salvation. Mary is the first Evangelizer who brings her good news to
Elizabeth. Even the children in their mother's womb leap for joy as the
two women meet and embrace. One will be the herald and precursor of the
other; while Mary's son will be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world.
There is something within this passage that helps us to understand the role
of evangelization and of bringing the mission of Jesus to those whom we
know. Yes, Advent is enhanced by this event that Luke has so carefully
crafted. Amen.
posted by Fr. Bert SM at 3:07 PM
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