Sing to Him a New Song

December 21, 2009

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth,the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! Song of Songs 2:11-13

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 and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 1:41-44

Piety

http://www.origenmusic.com/ave-maria-lyrics.html

Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Tui, Jesus
Sancta Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae
Amen.

Study

(Cue your favorite track of Ave Maria…Chris Botti, Beyonce, Charlotte Church, Michael Crawford, Celine Dion, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Leopold Stowkowski or whoever is your favorite. If you don’t have one handy, click the link in Piety and that web page will automatically load a version for your lectio, meditatio, oratorio and contemplatio.)

Advent is a season for the senses, especially hearing. Sound plays an important part in Advent and in the Biblical narrative of Advent preparation. The sounds of Advent in scripture, in song, in dialogue and in culture help us get ready for the holy day and season.

In today’s Gospel, Elizabeth and her unborn son respond to the greeting of Mary with shouts of love and leaps of joy. They are the latest example of how the major figures in the Christmas narrative all respond to what they hear. Some like Elizabeth and her cousin Mary respond positively. Others, like Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah doubted the message of an angel. In his case, Zechariah paid a price for his skepticism and was rendered speechless. His speech was not restored until he acted out of obedience naming the leaping unborn son John. John grows up to be another sound of Advent, the voice crying in the wilderness.

Zechariah’s doubts contrast with the religious and civil obedience of Mary and Joseph. They respond to the message of an angel with humility and love. Then, they respond to the Roman census with an obedient though inconvenient journey to Bethlehem. For their faithfulness, they are blessed with the baby Jesus to round out their Holy Family.

In the coming days, we will hear of other obedient servants like the shepherds who heed the prompting of an angel to find the baby born in Bethlehem and the wise men from the east who respond in action to what they learn.

Hearing the sounds of the season and acting what is heard leads to the fulfillment of the covenant. “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Action

Sound continues to play a major role in our preparation for Jesus. Listening, hearing and responding are ways that we continue to participate in the ministry of John the Baptist and follow the example of Mary listening for the time when Christ comes into the world and our lives. John gives voice to the season of preparation as we await the coming of the Word. What sound is the Lord using to call you to prepare for this season?