Monday, December 21, 2015

How Does This Happen To Me?


My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! “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. Song of Songs 2:10-13B

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? Luke 1:41-43

Piety
The Night Before Christmas
A more spiritual version of the famous Christmas story
By Sister St. Thomas, B.N.D. de N

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down;
Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild,
While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child.
The children were nestled, each snug in their beds,
The grown-ups wouldn't bother, there's no room they said;
When even the innkeeper sent them away,
Joseph was wondering, where they would stay.
He thought of the caves in the side of the hills,
Lets go there said Mary, it's silent and still;
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go.
And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,
Our Savior was born on that first Christmas Day!
The Father was watching in heaven above,
He sent for His angels, His couriers of love.
More rapid than eagles God's bright angels came;
Rejoicing and eager as each heard his name;
Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael,
Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel.
Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,
Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give;
The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night,
And saw in the heavens and unearthly light.
The Angels assured them, they'd nothing to fear,
It's Christmas they said, the Savior is here!
They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door,
Till Mary invited them in to adore.
He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet,
Never did the Shepherds see a baby so sweet!
He spoke not a word, but the shepherds all knew,
He was telling them secrets and blessing them too.
Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day;
Mary heard them exclaim as they walked up the hill,
Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will!

Study
Come, let us walk in the dawning light of our God in our midst who constantly breaks through our conflicted history calling us toward and only to love, peace and justice.  The Word made Flesh in Jesus is a new call and a new beginning like no other call.  In these final days of Advent, we ask to renew this vision and our faith in Jesus who is the way, the truth and the light like it was renewed in the presence of Elizabeth and John for the very first time.

Action
Where will you find yourself this week?
At work?
At school?
In a shopping mall?
In a traffic jam?
In an airport lounge or waiting for lost luggage at baggage claim?
At a neighborhood, church or office party?

Where ever you find yourself, Jesus will find you there just as He comes to visit Elizabeth and the leaping John the Baptist. How does this happen to us?  The same way if happened two thousand years ago…out of undeserved grace freely given. 

Put aside your anxieties and rejoice with great joy as we approach Christmas Day encounter.

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