4th
Sunday of Advent – Year B
2
Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 Romans
16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38
Some
nursery school kids were preparing a Christmas play. Little Cynthia did not
like the part she was assigned to play. She wanted to change parts with her friend
Monica. When the teacher asked her why, she answered, "Because it is
easier to be an angel than to be the mother of Christ." The little girl is
certainly right. To be the mother of Christ is no light matter. Yet difficult
as it sounds, that is exactly what we are all called to be. In fact, we could
say that even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, his real desire is to be born
in the hearts of believers, to be re-produced by believers.
On
this Sunday before Christmas we contemplate the mystery of divine election. We
hear today the stories of the choice of David to be a king and Mary to be the
mother of God. God chooses an unknown poet from a remote shepherd family to be
a king. God chooses an unknown woman from an obscure village to be the mother of
the messiah. God seeks out humble origins for his exalted purposes.
Three
similar details surround the choice of David and Mary:
(1) They
come from humble origins. How frequently the famous and powerful in
Church history are said to be “of rich and noble families.” David and Mary come
from good stock, but not families in the power centers. God identifies
with the humble and the poor.
(2) They
must personally agree to the mission. Questions are asked. Invitations
extended. Their freedom to accept or refuse is left intact. The success of
their mission depends both on God’s grace and their heartfelt commitment. Hence
David’s “Yes” and Mary’s “Fiat.”
(3) God’s
Spirit envelops them. Once there is an agreement, an ecstasy of Spirit
floods their souls. Far deeper than a diplomat’s handshake, this is a divine
embrace of love. David thus becomes a charismatic king. Mary becomes the
exalted mother of God.
All
of us have also been elected by God. Most of us in the humble state of infancy.
We made our personal agreement through our godparents, and later on at our
confirmation by our own lips. We have known the Spirit’s power from time to
time. Let us live again today in the story of David and Mary our own personal
pact with God. What better way is there to get ready for Christmas?
Preparation
for Christmas can be difficult: difficult for Mary, for Joseph, for Mary's
mother, Anna, for Elizabeth, and for us.
Are
you ready for Christmas to come? cookies baked, house cleaned for guests,
travel arrangements in place? gifts purchased and wrapped, tree decorated? I
confess I'm behind on all those things; and probably some others I've yet to
remember. During Advent we talk a lot about remembering to prepare for Christ
to be born in our lives. And I'm way behind on that one too. My "spiritual
house" is still a cluttered mess though I've tried dutifully to practice
what I preach.
After
reading today's lessons, I wonder and meditate where Jesus will choose to be
born? -- Will it be the well-prepared house with all the perfect
color-coordinated decorations and the tastefully wrapped gifts? Is Jesus
looking to be born in the soul that is really prepared for his birth? The one
who has neatly ordered his spiritual life? Does our God search out the people
and places who are perfectly prepared and in control of things?
Listen
to our readings for today: God doesn't seem to be showing up at those places
that are highly regarded. He chooses a place where there is true humility, simplicity
and obedience. Both David and Mary had humble and simple origin. When Mary
confessed her humility and obedience she was exalted to the Mother of God.
Today
we need to meditate upon the Christian virtues of humility, simplicity and
obedience. All these virtues are to be learnt both from our Mother Mary and
Lord Jesus.
As
we meditate upon the virtue of humility, once again we should ask ourselves, to
what extent one need to humble oneself. Look at how much Mary humbled herself.
She said, “Here am I, the slave (அடிமை)
of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word”.
To
lower oneself to the level of a slave is never easy. No one wants to leave or
lower their status in today’s circumstances. Will a manager or officer take up
a broom to clean up his office? Will a headmaster in a school do the work of a
peon or attender? Who wants to lower their position and status today?
Remember,
without humility one cannot prepare a place for Jesus to be born.
Everyone
wants Jesus to be born in their hearts. To clean up and prepare your heart you
need the humility. Yes, if you have that true humility, you will humbly receive
the Sacrament of Confession. Not many go for confession these days, because
they lack humility; they do not understand that it is sacrament.
Anybody
who receives any Sacraments in right manner, he/she receives “SACRAMENTAL GRACE”.
Sacramental grace is the unique grace that brings true and permanent changes in
the person who receives a sacrament. Now all of us are seeking for some changes
in our lives. If those changes are needed to be permanent and true, then the
changes should come through the sacraments. Mary confessed that she is the
slave of the Lord, and a permanent change came to her. An ordinary simple and
poor girl was changed into the Mother of God.
My
dear brothers and sisters, as we have only few more days to celebrate the birth
of Christ, let us prepare a place for Jesus to be born through a good confession.
To make a good confession we need the humility first to accept that we are
sinners. If we humble ourselves in the sacrament of confession, we will be
elevated to a position to offer a right place for Jesus to be born in
ourselves.
Jesus
definitely wants to be born in a truly humble and simple place. Look at the
nativity scene. It was a simple and humble place where Jesus chose to be born.
The people surrounded when Jesus was born were simple and humble people. The
birth of Christ was announced first to simple and humble shepherds. And God
chose to be born through a simple woman called ‘Mary’.
Let
us keep this simplicity and humility in our lives. Let that humility be exhibited
through a good and genuine confession before Christmas. Let us all make good
confession and get ready to receive Jesus. For many of us this could be
difficult (like the little girl who found difficult to play the role of Mary in
the play); but remember it is always not an impossible one. Let this fourth
week of advent be a time of good preparation through confession. Let spiritual
preparation be given priority in these days.
Fr. A. Christopher, HGN
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