December 23, 2012
Micah 5:1-4; Psalm
80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Mary’s
visit to Elizabeth is a favorite passage of many. The enchanted encounter of
two mothers-to-be stirs the imagination with real human warmth. The passage is
to be read as a literary and theological statement rather than an actual
account of events. When people of prayer reflect upon the passage, they fill in
the blank spaces with the rest of the story that makes sense for them. It is
important for us to listen to what Luke is telling us because this is a story
of two women who praise the God who is active in their lives.
If
the accounts were accurate, we would seriously wonder why a fourteen-year-old
virgin makes a treacherous four-day trip by herself to the hill country right
after she become mysteriously pregnant. A single woman just does not travel
alone, presumably by foot, because she would be harassed, threatened, robbed,
or physically harmed. Her finance, Joseph, would not be satisfied with her
decision to travel alone. He would provide necessary protection or would make
sure she is traveling in a band.
Notice
the silence that pervades this scene. Has Mary told Joseph yet that she is
pregnant by divine intervention? This is difficult news to hear. Fortunately,
the angel comes to Joseph to inform him. Do her parents know yet and when does
she intend to tell them? If they know, they would probably not let her visit
Elizabeth. Surely, when she returns three months pregnant, she will begin to
show that she is carrying a child. We have to suspend these questions so we can
share in the joy that the women feel as they greet one another and share their
stories.
Speaking
of silence, Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, is mute. He cannot share his joy
and fears with his wife because he cannot speak. He cannot tell her how he is
feeling as her surprising pregnancy advances. Zechariah is not punished for doubting the angel’s word, but he is silenced so that human beings can
listen and see and acknowledge that God is faithful even in the face of human
impossibility. Their son John’s name means, “Yahweh has shown favor.” Zechariah,
a priest of the Temple, cannot speak and therefore he is unable to complete the
liturgy he began. He cannot bless the people at the conclusion of their worship
service. Worships is suspended. This prepares the way for people to see that Jesus replaces the Temple
as a place of worship because fulfillment comes through his own person. John is
to prepare the way for him. True Temple worship temporarily ceases as the
unfolding of salvation history develops. The precursor of Jesus must be born
first.
Mary’s
song of praise follows this passage in which she praises God who is able to do
what is humanly impossible. What else did the two talk women about? I’m sure
Elizabeth shared her feelings about her pregnancy. It is a story that she
cannot really share with her husband easily because he cannot speak and maybe
he cannot hear. Every expectant mother wants to tell her own story and speak of
her hopes and excitement. Elizabeth
tells all to Mary and then Mary has a chance to break her secret to someone.
Quite possibly Elizabeth is the first person with whom Mary openly shares the
details of her conception. Mary still might not be able to comprehend such
mysterious events. When we are in a time of shock, we need to speak about what
we experience and feel. Mary’s story is heard for the first time besides that
of her finance, Joseph. Mary’s isolation ends. She can share all the joys of
motherhood with someone who understands. This helps her face the uncertain
world that awaits her in Nazareth.
The
point of Mary’s visit is not to show her great charity and social concern for
her aged, pregnant relative. If it were so, Mary would have stayed to witness
the birth of John. After all, this is the time of Elizabeth greatest need.
Experienced mothers and friends from the neighborhood would come to help her.
Luke has Mary leaving just as Elizabeth is to give birth. This focuses the
story on the three main characters. After John is born, Zechariah speaks John’s
name, “Yahweh has shown favor” as praise of God. Zechariah is finally able to
give the Temple blessing and complete the liturgy. He blesses God first. John’s
future role will be to prepare the people for the one who will bring peace, a
peace that is marked by wholeness, harmony, well-being, prosperity, and
security. This peace brings the promise of salvation.
Mary
returns home to marry Joseph to begin their life together. She waits patiently
as her son develops and forms within her. As every mother does, she spends time
in silence with her growing child. She nurtures him and sings to him and rubs
her belly to assure him she is with him. One day, he will do the same for her –
for he has come to show the world that he is Emmanuel – God is with us.
Let’s
spend these last days before Christmas pondering the ways Christ continues to
develop within us. Let’s spend the time nurturing him, singing to him, assuring
him we are with him. Tell him the wonders of your day. Tell him your sorrows.
Let yourself be seen, and heard, and known to him. May your heart be like
John’s, which leaped for joy when he recognized the Lord in his midst. Praise
be to God.
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First
Reading: On Christmas Eve day, David pines to build the
Lord a suitable house as he realizes he is in a place of splendor and comfort.
Meanwhile, Nathan the prophet is telling David that his house will endure
forever. On Christmas day, the angels rejoice because God has given to us a
child who will become our savior. The first martyr, Stephen, gives up his life
in witness to the risen Lord. The grace of Christmas gives way to the harsh
realities of the world. On the feast of John the Evangelist, we hear from his first
letter explaining that we have seen and experienced the Word of Life and we
testify to his goodness. We have to live truthfully if we are to be a disciple.
We cannot testify to the light if our moral actions are deceitful. Keeping his
commandments will prove that we live in the love of Christ.
Gospel:
The Canticle of Zechariah is sung. The father of John the Baptist sings his
song of praise as he realizes his son will become the prophet of the Most High.
On Christmas Day, John’s Prologue is read to show that Jesus was the Word of
God who eternally existed, but came down from heaven to dwell among us even
though he is to be rejected. On the Memorial of Stephen, Jesus tells his
disciples to beware of men who will hand you over to the courts and scourge you
because they testify on his behalf. On the feast of John the Evangelist, he is
identified as the disciple who ran to the tomb first and came to believe that
Jesus was raised from the dead. On the feast of the Holy Innocents, Herod
realized he was tricked by the magi and became furious. He ordered the massacre
of all boy infants in Bethlehem and the vicinity because he feared the rise of
an opposing king. After the days of purification were complete, Joseph and Mary
took Jesus to the temple to be presented to the Lord. They met Simeon who said
he could now gracefully depart from this life because he saw the salvation of
Israel.
Saints of the Week
Saints
are not celebrated during the octave leading up to Christmas.
December 23 - O
Emmanuel, our king and giver of the Law: come to save us, Lord our God.
December 25: The Nativity of Our Lord
December 26: Stephen, the first Martyr (d. 35), was
one of the seven original deacons chose to minister to the Greek-speaking
Christians. The Jews accused him of blasphemy. Though he was eloquent in his
defense, Saul of Tarsus condoned his death sentence.
December 27: John, Apostle and Evangelist (d. 100),
was the brother of James and one of the three disciples to be in the inner
circle. He left fishing to follow Jesus and was with him at the major events:
the transfiguration, raising of Jairus' daughter, and the agony in the garden.
He is also thought to be the author of the fourth gospel, three letters, and
the Book of Revelation.
December 28: The Holy Innocents (d. 2), were the
boys of Bethlehem who were under two years old to be killed by King Herod in an
attempt to eliminate the rise of the newborn king as foretold by the
astronomers from the east. This event is similar to the rescue of Moses from
the Nile by the slaughter of the infant boys by the pharaoh.
December 29: Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr
(1118-1170), was the lord chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury in
England during the time of King Henry II. When he disagreed with the King over
the autonomy of the church and state, he was exiled to France. When he
returned, he clashed again with the king who had him murdered in Canterbury
Cathedral.
This Week in
Jesuit History
·
Dec 23, 1549. Francis Xavier was
appointed provincial of the newly-erected Indian Province.
·
Dec 24, 1587. Fr. Claude Matthe died at
Ancona. He was a Frenchman of humble birth, highly esteemed by King Henry III
and the Duke of Guise. He foretold that Fr. Acquaviva would be General and hold
that office for a long period.
·
Dec 25, 1545. Isabel Roser pronounced
her vows as a Jesuit together with Lucrezia di Brandine and Francisca Cruyllas
in the presence of Ignatius at the church of Sta. Maria della Strada in Rome.
·
Dec 26, 1978. The assassination of
Gerhard Pieper, a librarian, who was shot to death in Zimbabwe.
·
Dec 27, 1618. Henry Morse entered the
English College at Rome.
·
Dec 28, 1802. Pope Pius VII allowed
Father General Gruber to affiliate the English Jesuits to the Society of Jesus
in Russia.
·
Dec 29, 1886. Publication of the beatification
decree of the English martyrs.
