Serving Despite the Rough Terrain

Brave 17-year-old Abdullah

 

Abdullah slinking on his belly toward a woman wounded on a street in Aleppo, Syria, manages to tie a rope around the woman to pull her away from the rapid gunfire. 

Serving Despite the Rough Terrain

 December 23, 2012: 4^th Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:1-4    Hebrews 10:5-10    Luke 1:39-45

First reading from the prophet Micah 

But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest town in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times. Therefore the Lord will abandon his people to their enemies until the one who is to give birth has her son. Then his fellow countrymen who are in exile will be reunited with their own people. When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God Himself.  

The word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Alleluia, alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Glory to you, Lord.

 

After the angel Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was already six months pregnant with John the Baptist, Mary went with great haste over rough terrain to a town in Judah, to be of service to her pregnant cousin. There Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. I can hardly believe that the mother of my Lord should come to visit me. When you came in and greeted me, the instant I heard your voice my baby within me leaped for joy. You believed that God would do what He said, and that is why He has given you this wonderful blessing.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction

All four candles lighted to dispel the darkness

On Friday, Dec. 14^th 2012 Adam Lanza (20 years) opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The school teaches children aged 5 to 10. Lanza killed 28 people, 20 of them children, before turning the gun on himself. Newtown, an affluent town about 80 miles northeast of New York City, mourned its dead in community vigils. President Barack Obama wiped away tears as he told the nation in a television address on Friday: "Our hearts are broken.” And on Sunday, Dec. 16^th Obama flew to Newtown to personally console those very deeply and  personally impacted by the massacre, and to promise the nation that in coming weeks he would use “whatever power this office holds” to prevent mass shootings like the horrific one in Newtown.

 Exactly one week after the horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, winter began on Friday Dec.  21^st. The Old Farmers' Almanac shows the period between Dec. 17^th and 25^th as the darkest of the entire year; it has 15 long hours of darkness and only 9 short hours of light. On this 4^th  Sunday of Advent, Dec.23^rd  all four candles on the Advent wreath are lighted to dispel the physical and psychological darkness of this fast departing year of 2012. On Dec. 14^th.that darkness was horrifically climaxed by the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Early Advent: a wearisome litany of promises

Advent is divided into Early and Late Advent.  Early Advent begins with the 1^st Sunday of Advent and continues till the 17^th of December. In Early Advent the readings at Mass are from the prophet Isaiah, and they offer a wearisome litany of promises:
 

“In those days they will melt down their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. One nation will not raise the sword against another, and they will no longer train for war again." (Is. 2:4-5) "In those days the wolf will be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid." (Is. 11:6)  "In those days the deaf will be able to hear a book being read out loud and the blind who have been living in darkness will open their eyes and see.“ (Is. 29:18)  Etc.

 

By the end of Early Advent, we are wearied by its litany of promises made but as yet not fulfilled.

 

Late Advent: a delightful litany of stories

With the arrival of Late Advent on Dec. 17^th (called also the Novena of Christmas) everything changes dramatically and pleasantly. The wearisome litany of promises gives way to a wonderful litany of stories:

After Jesus’ genealogy is traced through 42 generations in the gospel reading at Mass on the Dec. 17^{th (}Mt. 1:1-17), there follows a litany of stories: On the Dec.18^th the story is told of Joseph who’s puzzled about his espoused wife being with child. (Mt. 1:18-24) On the Dec.19^th the story is told of aged Zachariah who is told by an angel that his barren and aged wife Elizabeth will conceive a child. (Lk. 1: 5-25) On the Dec.20^th the story is told of the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she would conceive and bear a Son whom she will name Jesus. (Lk.1: 26- 38)

Then on the Dec.21^st the story is told of Mary who in her compassion hastens over rough terrain to serve her aged cousin Elizabeth who is already six-months pregnant with John the Baptist. (Lk .1: 39-45) Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth is told not only on Dec. 21^st (the 5^th day of the Novena of Christmas) but also on this 4^th Sunday of Advent (Cycle C). Mary, who has just been told by the angel that she is to become the mother of the Messiah, is not immobilized by the incredible news. Instead, as soon as the angel leaves she grabs her basket and bonnet, and hastens across rough terrain to serve her aged and pregnant cousin who is in great need of help.

Message of the Visitation

There is a shining message here in Mary (mother of the Messiah) hastening across rough terrain to visit Elizabeth and serve her in her confinement: In the Messianic age, people shall hasten to serve those in need, even though the terrain is rough.

Abdullah slinking over rough terrain

It’s the season to tell stories, especially in Late Advent. There is the recent story of brave 17-year-old Abdullah, and the rough terrain over which he had to slink on his belly, in order to serve someone in utterly dire need. That story went viral; on Dec. 13, 2012, CNN released a video footage of Abdullah’s daring attempt to rescue a wounded woman whom he didn’t even know. In the video he’s seen slinking over rough pavement on his belly toward the wounded woman, while gunfire erupts all around him. He successfully manages to tie a rope around the woman to pull her away from the area of rapid gunfire. The woman’s son waits nearby, hoping his mother will make it out alive. Despite Abdullah’s efforts, the woman dies. The grieving son is led away from his dead mother who is covered up and carried away. Abdullah later told CNN: “I had a feeling she was still alive. I wanted to save her, and get her to a hospital. I said to myself that if I die, it’s God’s will that I die next to this woman.”
 

Conclusion

All four candles burning brightly

The physical and psychological darkness of this fast departing year of 2012 was horrifically intensified on Friday, Dec. 14^th by the massacre at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn. There is, indeed, great evil in the world. But the story of Abdullah, who slinks on his belly in a daring attempt to rescue a wounded woman, sends a consoling message: there is, indeed, great good in the world. On this 4^th Sunday of Advent 2012, the four candles on the Advent wreath burning brightly do twofold service: they lightened up a world darkened by great evil, and they reflect the light with which people like Abdullah glow.

 

 

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you"

The Annunciation by Michelangelo Caravaggio, 1608

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

 Lk 1:28

“Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,

and born of the Virgin Mary”

Creed at Mass

December 18, 2011, 4^th Sunday of Advent

II Samuel 7:1-5   Romans 16:25-27   Luke 1:26-38

Alleluia, alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Glory to you, Lord.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth, with a message for a girl promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. The girl’s name was Mary. The angel approached her and said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled by the angel’s, message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end!”

 But Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Furthermore, six months ago your Aunt Elizabeth (called `the barren one’) became pregnant in her old age. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary answered, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” And then the angel disappeared.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction

The season to light candles

Today December 18, 2011, is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent. Today, the Christian community lights the fourth candle on the Advent wreath.  Wednesday December 21 is the first day of Hanukkah, when the Jewish community lights the first of the eight candles of the menorah candelabra. Then Thursday December 22 will be the first day of winter. The Old Farmers' Almanac shows the period between December 17 and 25 as the darkest of the year. Those days have fifteen long hours of darkness and only nine short hours of light. No wonder this is the season to light candles

Late Advent’s specialty: telling stories

The second part of Advent (called Late Advent or the Novena of Christmas) began yesterday, December 17. The scripture readings for Late Advent specialize in what Christmas does best: they tell stories. They tell the story of the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit. (Lk 1:26-38) They tell the story of Mary hurrying over hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who needs help in her pregnancy. (Lk 1:39-45) They tell the story of Mary and Joseph not finding any room in an inn, and their seeking refuge in a stable where Mary gives birth to Jesus. (Lk 2:1-7) They tell the story of an angel announcing tidings of great joy to shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, and their finding an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. (Lk 2:8-20) 

`Virginal conception’ doesn’t fly well

At Mass on this fourth and last Sunday of Advent (Cycle B), Dec. 18, 2011, we tell the story of the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary her virginal conception of Jesus. The angel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Most High will overshadow her, and the child born of her will be called the Son of God. (Lk 1:35) Then at Mass on Dec. 24 (the Vigil of Christmas), we tell the story of an angel announcing Mary’s pregnancy to Joseph, and that takes him totally by surprise. (M 1:18-20)

The story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus doesn’t fly well in our culture, where breasts are bared and bursting, and where torsos are twisting and turning, on TV all day long. Such a culture dismisses the virginal conception of Jesus as not very serious, or as quite incomprehensible, or even as offensive to human nature.

That being so, how in the world can we tell our young ones (without tongue-in-cheek) the Christmas story of Mary virginally conceiving Jesus? How is it possible to tell them the story in such a way as not to sound incomprehensible or offensive? Not only that, but also and especially, how is it possible to tell the story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus to this generation (and also to ourselves) in such a way as to suffuse it with religious meaning? That’s a task that is long overdue. 

A positive statement about Jesus

As Catholics for centuries recited the Creed at Mass, which proclaims that Jesus was “conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary,” down deep in their heart of hearts, they always felt that that was a kind of negative statement about sex. It is not, and it cannot be, a negative statement about sex. It does not say, and it cannot say, that when the Son of God came into the world, it was below His dignity to be conceived in the very same way that all other babies are conceived. That would be an affront to every mother and father who bring a child into the world! Sex is not dirty! When He comes into the world Jesus doesn’t need to be protected from being `naturally conceived’. The story of the virginal conception of Jesus is not a negative statement about sex. Rather it is a positive statement about Jesus; the story wants to say that Jesus is much more than the gift of Joseph and Mary to us. He is, especially and above all, the gift of the heavenly Father to us.

A positive statement about woman

The story of the virginal conception is also a positive statement about woman. When the Novena of Christmas began yesterday December 17, the gospel opened with that long male-ridden genealogy from Matthew:

This is the family record of Jesus Chr4ist who was a descendent of David, who was a descendant of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  And Judah begot Perez and Zerah.

The genealogy then continues through an endless  litany of 42 generations of men begetting sons! (It’s so endless and boring that the celebrant at Mass is permitted to cut it short.)Who in the world ever heard of `men begetting babies!’ That male-ridden genealogy finally comes to a screeching halt with these words:

And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and it was of her [not of Joseph] that Jesus who is called the Christ was born. (Mt 1:1-16)

 With one powerful stroke the story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus puts an ax to the quiet lie that lines up only men behind the great moments of history. Behind an event which divides time into B.C. and A.D., there stands no man at all--only a woman. Upon the most momentous page of history a woman (and not a man) puts her signature. That’s not a feminist statement; it’s a Christmas statement.

A positive statement about man

The story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus is also a positive statement about Joseph; he steps aside and resigns his sexual prowess. He does so in order to let the message shine through that Jesus is not just his gift to us; He is above all the gift of the Father in heaven. Stepping aside is a big order for men who do not resign power and position easily, and who like to be on center-stage. Mary, not Joseph is center-staged in the Christmas drama. At the end of the day, men’s yen for center stage is the real but unspoken reason why women never get ordained in the Catholic Church (except by an act of disobedience). Joseph is a model for a male-ridden society and Church.

Conclusion

Born of the virgin Mary

We can defend with all our might the story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus, as a miracle, but if we haven’t also discovered its religious meaning, we haven’t defended much at all. At the end of the day, the story says that Jesus is more than Joseph and Mary’s gift to us; He is especially and above all the heavenly Father’s gift. The story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus also puts an end to all male-ridden genealogies, and calls attention to women’s place in human history. Finally, the story paints Joseph as an exceptional man, doing what men don’t like to do – stepping aside and giving up center stage. When we have found the positive meaning of the story of Mary’s virginal conception of Jesus, it will no longer be incomprehensible or offensive, but will, in fact, be full of light, as we recite in the creed “Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.”