The Lord is With You
Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to
weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give
you this sign: The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him
Emmanuel. Isaiah 7:13-14
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!
The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not
be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:28-30
Piety
Does your soul proclaim the greatness of the Lord, or are
you still worried about Christmas presents rather than being present for
Christmas?
Are you the handmaid or butler to the Lord or are you spending
more time answering to Mammon, Wall Street, K Street, Hollywood, the NFL or
some other false idol?
Study
During the second week of Advent, we had the chance to
reflect upon this very same reading with the Good News during the Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just three days later, on
the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Magisterium served up this same
passage. Now again today for the third time in twelve days, the narrative of
the birth of Jesus unfolds anew.
In the last eight days of Advent (beginning last Tuesday),
the readings focus on the stories from Jesus' family in the time before he was
born. Now the gospels are the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. While on
the Holy Days last week, we contemplated on the rich symbolism of this story, today,
let’s look at the essential details of the story as action rises.
“Expectation” is a key and central them of Advent. Any
parent reading this can remember the days before their children came into the
world. Rooms painted. Clothing and diapers purchased. Showers showered. Doctors visited. Well-wishes received. Biology
changed. An ancient Palestinian version of all this happened to Mary two
thousand years ago, just like it did with us on August 16, 1985, and June 7,
1987.
In the third week of this beloved season, the expectation
increases and invites us to encounter God through deeply human experiences.
Mary and the Angel Gabriel. Elizabeth encounters Mary. Ahaz meets the
Lord. These are the very opening
chapters of New Testament History. What mysteries lie ahead?
Perhaps a look backward will reveal what to expect. In today’s
First Reading from Isaiah, the interaction between the Lord and Ahaz sets the
stage of the promise of the millennium.
After enduring the battle with the Samarians, Ahaz had to decide what to
do next.
What Ahaz will learn is that those who plot against him will
not accomplish their plans (v. 7). Instead, what the Lord plans will unfailingly
come to pass. Individual plans, contrary
to those of the Lord, are doomed to frustration.
God chose and committed to David’s dynasty and his capital
city Jerusalem, a solemn vow, a covenant.
God did not make that same promise to Rezin and his capital Damascus,
nor the son of Ramallah and his capital Samaria.
Isaiah’s sign seeks to reassure Ahaz that he need not fear
the invading armies of Syria and Israel in the light of God’s promise to David.
Gabriel’s sign seeks to reassure Mary and all of us not to
fear anything else.
What comes to pass in the interaction between Gabriel and
Mary is nothing less than bringing the oracle of Isaiah to life!
Action
Christmas is getting much more concrete. Decorations are
out. Food is being bought and prepared.
Will joy enter your heart and replace whatever is
preoccupying your time?
Is the Lord with you or is the Wal*Mart advertising with
you? Only Jesus can make this a December
to Remember.
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