Stirred

December 19, 2008

Friday of the Third Week of Advent

The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him; the Spirit of the LORD stirred him. Judges 13:24-25

“I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Luke 1:19-20

Piety

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Benedictus from Luke 1:67-79

Study

Stirred not shaken. The angels are here to stir things up. They are agitating the people and their spirit so that they will wake up and recognize that something great is about to happen. If not, then they deliver an even sterner wake-up call…like striking Zechariah unable to speak until his son is born. Talk about the consequences of having little faith!

Gabriel who appears to Zechariah and the angel who appears to Manoah are not here to bring the calm before the storm. They bring the first waves of the storm crashing to earth. The stirring is passed along to John and Samson and ultimately to Jesus when he is born in less than one week.

Action

As we approach the final days of Advent, are you ready to be stirred to life for Jesus? The coming of the baby in Bethlehem stirred Mary and Joseph. Jesus made his cousin John do cartwheels while still “dwelling” in Elizabeth. He certainly helped to bring Zechariah’s ministry to life.

This month, at the St. Mary’s Ultreya gathering, Sr. Sonia asked us to write Palanca to the Holy Family in the Nativity. What would you write to the puzzled carpenter, standing by his young, pregnant wife while marching to his hometown for the census? What would you write to support the virgin who finds herself with child, the handmaiden of the Lord? How will your prayers support the baby she delivers?

Forget about writing to Santa, take on Sr. Sonia’s assignment and write a Palanca letter to the people taking part in the first Noel. How do their faith, obedience and humility stir you to piety, study and action?