04th Sunday of Advent: December 22, 2024
Readings: Micah 5:1–4; Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–45
1. Wonder at the incomprehensible mystery of God
St. Gregory of Nyssa, that profound mystic of the early Church, once wrote: "Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything." As we ponder the mystery of the Incarnation, these words take on special significance. In our modern world of instant gratification and digital distractions, we often try to reduce everything to easily digestible concepts. Yet the wonder of God becoming human defies all our attempts at neat categorization.
The Gospel for this Sunday Luke 1:39–45 presents us with Mary's fiat – her "yes" to God's extraordinary invitation making her at the service of others including her relative Elizabeth. This young woman from Nazareth, living in occupied territory under Roman rule, facing societal judgment and uncertainty, still dared to say, "Be it done unto me according to your word." How many of us, in our own lives, struggle with such radical trust? Moreover, Mary is ready to accompany another woman Elizabeth who is also troubled by the good news of the child in her senior years.
2. Beyond Bethlehem: Christ's Birth in Today's World
St Maximus the Confessor, another early Patristic writer offers us a profound insight here: "The Word of God, born once in the flesh, is always willing to be born spiritually in those who desire Him." This spiritual birth isn't just a historical event we commemorate – it's an ongoing invitation to each of us. In our divided world, where political tensions run high, where families struggle with economic pressures, where climate change threatens our common home, we too are called to be bearers of Christ.
Let us consider our own contemporary context in which we live: Parents juggling work demands while trying to create meaningful Advent traditions for their children; young adults navigating career choices while seeking deeper meaning in life; elderly members of our community facing loneliness during the holiday season; immigrants in our parishes yearning for both welcome and preservation of their cultural traditions; families struggling with inflation and financial stress during this season of giving. The list goes on. However, we can make a difference here if we trust in the Lord and walk in His ways.
3. Impossible Possibilities: Carrying Christ in Today's World
The mystery of the Incarnation speaks to all these situations. As Gregory of Nyssa teaches us, "What was achieved in Mary's body is accomplished in the soul of every person who has been saved." This means that our daily struggles, our moments of uncertainty, and our professional challenges – all become sacred spaces where God desires to be born anew. Love is a good disposition of the soul during this time of intense longing for God. As we prepare for Christmas, perhaps this is our most important task – to cultivate that good disposition of the soul that recognizes God's presence in all things, even (and especially) in the messy realities of our daily lives.
As we light the fourth candle of Advent, let us remember that we stand in a long tradition of believers who have grappled with the mystery of Emmanuel – God with us. Like Mary, we are called to be God-bearers in our own time and place. In our homes and offices, in our digital spaces and face-to-face encounters, in our moments of joy and our experiences of struggle, we are invited to let Christ be born anew. May these final days of Advent find us, like Mary, open to the impossible possibilities that God places before us, ready to be surprised by joy, and willing to be transformed by love. "For with God, nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)
Questions for self-reflection:
In these final days before Christmas, we might ask ourselves:
- Where in my life am I being invited to say "yes" to God's unexpected plans?
- How can I create space for wonder amidst the holiday rush?
- In what ways might I be called to bear Christ to others in their moments of need?
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