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Scripture:

Song of Songs 2:8-14
Luke 1:39-45

Reflection:

Today as we close in on our celebration of the Birth of the Messiah, we surely note what is likely unique in the church’s arrangement of the biblical readings she suggests, not only for this particular time on the schedule of her choices for our reflection, but for any of her choices of such readings throughout the liturgical year.  The readings suggested by her today are totally and exclusively assigned to women.

Of course, this should not be surprising, since we are preparing to celebrate a birth event, and even though men have a significant part to play in an occasion like this, it does not quite compare to the woman’s role in it.  And, of course, with all due deference to Joseph, that wonderful companion of his virgin wife, his role was even more marginal to the birth of this remarkable infant than that of most fathers.  And so, when all is said and done, recognition must be given to adoptive parents, those generous men and women anxious to experience their version both of motherhood and fatherhood by way of adopting a child in need of a loving father and mother.

But the church’s choice today, so close to the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, of an explicitly woman’s experience as worthy of our reflection, deserves our attention.  And so we listen, with interest, to the comments of the book called the Song of Songs.  It is the voice of a woman waiting for the love of her life as he approaches her.  She knows he is close by, and calls upon nature, in the spring of its development, as it is about to bloom and blossom forth with the flower that has been moving toward full blooming and development.  And she is excited with expectation.  This undoubtedly corresponds to a woman on the verge of childbirth.  And it is a completely woman’s experience.  A man cannot quite enter into what she is experiencing no matter how closely he is bound to this event.

And St. Luke contributes his own point of view to this event, which moves beyond the general experience of pregnancy and childbirth, and focuses specifically on the birth of Jesus.  He does this by narrating the touching moment when Mary and Elizabeth, cousins and both pregnant in rather remarkable ways, meet and share their mutually joyful experience of being on the verge of childbirth.  Again, it is an all-women encounter.  It is narrated by Luke the evangelist, but Luke, of course, was a man, and tradition has it that he was a physician, who likely assisted at many childbirths, but he tries his best to pass on to us this particularly memorable meeting of Mary and Elizabeth.

Childbirth, as we know, is a universal experience, not confined to just any one group of people, but to the Jewish people it was an especially momentous event because tied so closely into the Jewish expectation of the coming Messiah—an anticipation likely not shared by other ethnic groups.  And, of course, that was exactly what stood at the heart of these two women meeting—a truly unique event.  The only downside of the church celebrating this encounter was that it occurs on the shortest day of the year, possibly rushing our celebration of it too quickly to adequately appreciate it.

So with joy in our hearts we pray for all pregnant women that they deliver safely/that no abortions occur because of inadequate resources to nurture the health of the newborns/that this winter not be too harsh on the poor/in gratitude to all families welcoming new life into their midst/.

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:5-8
Matthew 1:18-25

Reflection:

…the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…

Today’s gospel passage has been referred to as the ‘Annunciation to Joseph’.  In Matthew’s narrative there is no annunciation to Mary – the angel comes to Joseph – in a dream.  Joseph’s world has just been turned upside down with the discovery that Mary,( his betrothed whom he has not had relations with), is with child.  As a ‘righteous’ man, he comes up with what he thinks will be a win/win response – he will divorce her quietly, hoping that they both can just quietly disappear, their separate ways.

Asleep that night, he hears “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid…continue with your betrothal….it is through the Holy Spirit…and you will name him Jesus”

Perhaps the most amazing part of this passage, is that Joseph complies.  He allows his ‘plan’ to change, he follows through with his betrothal, takes Mary into his home and he named her son Jesus.  And God is with us, Emmanuel!  We might ask, how could he be so certain? How could he abandon his ‘righteous’ plan and be so vulnerable?  How could he be certain God was present in his dream?

Aren’t those the questions we ask ourselves daily?  Is God calling me to this? Really?  How can I be sure?  What should I do?  Maybe Joseph can show us the way.  His ‘righteous plan’ likely grew from his prayer – Okay God, what am I supposed to do here, I’ve just been blind-sided, how do I navigate this event?!?  And he came to a resolution he could live with.  But he also listened to the dream, the nudgings, the doubts (the very presence and voice of God) and trusted God to lead the way.  He stepped out in faith trusting his heart.  Sometimes we need to follow the truth of our heart and step out in faith.  Sometimes, we too need to ‘sleep on’ our plan and notice the stress, anxiety, peace or serenity – the nudgings of God.  Sometimes we have to set out in the dark night and follow the star that leads to new life, new hope, new energy, we have to ‘right’ the ‘wrongs’ that we encounter as we seek to build the kingdom of God.

Faith Offman is the Associate Director of Ministry at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Scripture:

Isaiah 48:17-19
Matthew 11:16-19

Reflection:

I find it hard not to have questions and concerns in today’s uncertain world.  Everything is made even more difficult with our fast paced lives.  As Catholics, who isn’t confused on how to approach life. We face a myriad of complex issues every day and it can be challenging at times to know what is right.

Today’s readings though, give us some ideas. In the first reading we hear the “Lord will tell you what is good,” and then we hear the Lord telling us “He will lead us on the way to go”.  The Psalms are just as clear, follow the Lord, and have the light of Life.  The Bible is filled with the Lord telling us to follow Him, that He is the way, the Truth and the Life.

So why do we struggle so? Are we afraid to follow him?  We shouldn’t be. Doesn’t He repeatedly remind us, “be not afraid”?  Maybe the truth is, we want to lead, not follow.  We think we have a better understanding of our lives and what we need.  We don’t want to change our view points.  We just need His help.  That’s the way most of my prayers sound.  Here is what I need Lord, please help make it happen.  We are tempted to think we know what God wants and we end up not really sure what we want or where we are going. Like the children in the Gospel, not happy with or sure about anything we see.  That’s not following the Lord.  That’s not surrendering to Him.  To follow Him we need to seek Him, to know more about Him, to trust Him.

This advent,  this year of faith, Let’s truly seek Him in prayer, in the sacraments, in front of the blessed sacrament, in reading the Bible or other spiritual books.  Let’s listen to Him more by slowing down, taking time out from the rush of life.  Then can we begin to recognize Him, to see where He is leading us, and what He wants of us.  Then we will begin to know the peace and joy that can only come from following Him, and  then, maybe our descendants will be as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore of the sea, and we can yield fruit in due season.

 

Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre ,and a good friend of the Passionist Community.