Scripture readings:
You Word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet.
A light to our path.
Luke 1:46-55
John 1:6-8,19-28
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Reflection:
When I read these two readings today, I am struck by the sincere and unquestioning faith shown by Mary and John the Baptist. There is a willing participation and ready acceptance when presented with requests that would appear to pretty improbable to say the least. Israel had been waiting for years, centuries, for the Messiah and here we have two ordinary people who have absolutely no doubt about the action of God on their lives, in their world at that time.
The theme for this week is joy and for Mary and the baby John who leaps in his mother Elizabeth’s womb at the time, there is much to be joyful about. The song of Mary called the Magnificat echoes the prayer of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2 when Hannah who had been barren is blessed with the birth of Samuel.
Mary is blessed by God to conceive and bear Jesus; the hope and liberation promised in God’s covenant with Israel, the long awaited King who would rule with justice and free his people from oppression. Mary had no idea how this could happen but she had no hesitation in being part of God’s divine plan. Her trust and faith were extraordinary and as she carries this powerful life within her, she is filled with joy. Mary is grateful for God’s blessing upon her, and for God’s loyalty and mercy to the people of Israel. In the midst of so much uncertainty and turmoil of the times, Mary’s trust is unwavering in God’s power and will, in God’s promise of salvation.
God knows and cares about the suffering and injustice that is experienced by human beings back in biblical times and today. God is actively involved in people’s experiences, but not necessarily in ways that we understand or expect.
The Hebrew people expected the coming of a Messiah who was a powerful king, a military leader who would overcome the foreign powers of empirical domination, injustice, tyranny and oppression, restoring freedom, prosperity and peace. Instead we hear of a humble, ordinary, young girl, blissfully joyous because she has been blessed by God with a baby that would be the answer to God’s promise of mercy and liberation – for all people. Mary has no idea about what this means, who this child will be or how God’s plans will be played out. She is full of faith, hope and pure joy, anticipating something good in the midst of struggle and uncertainty.
In the reading from John, we have John the Baptist, down at the banks of the Jordan river, baptizing people – asking them to repent of their sins and immersing them in water as a sign of starting a new life, of changing their ways. Changing to start living the way God had asked of them. “Make straight the way for the Lord”. It is time to prepare our lives and our hearts because the promised One is coming.
John was the messenger, the one sent on ahead to announce that Christ was coming, that the light of God was entering into the world. John was a man of great faith. He knew exactly who he was and what God wanted of him. John knew that Christ was near and that he was witness to this good news. He proclaimed fearlessly to the people of the coming of Jesus even though he would have known that this would be very risky.
The Pharisees were getting really concerned. They see people going to John, listening to him, being baptised – what’s that all about? Baptism is not a Jewish tradition. So they send some of their lackeys, the priests and Levites – to go and find out what is going on and exactly, who is John claiming to be? What authority does he have?
John is very clear that he is not the Christ, nor is he Elijah. “Well then, who are you? Tell us about yourself so we can go and tell our bosses?”
I am the voice of the one shouting in the wilderness, ’Make straight the way for the Lord’ as told by Isaiah in the prophet’s message of hope and restoration to the people of Israel suffering under exile in Babylon. John is telling them that his role to prepare the way, to tell people that they need to be ready, to get their lives and hearts in order because the Christ is coming. The prophesies are about to be fulfilled, the long awaited Messiah is near, the true light is coming. I am the messenger who testifies to this so that you can know and be ready, for the coming of the one true king. Finally, justice will prevail and oppression will be overcome – God has not abandoned his people. Love, kindness and human dignity will be restored.
Both John and Mary were such ordinary people. They had no wealth, status or power but each had a deep faith in their hearts and an openness to the message of God. Neither questioned nor doubted, even when faced with situations that seemed impossible or inexplicable. They heard God in their hearts and they believed. May we too grasp the mystery of the incarnation with the faith of the heart. For the mind alone can never penetrate these things. It is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing. We have to stand before God’s secret with reverent awe and experience in our own lives, this miracle of the incarnation.
So in this week of joy in Advent, let us hold onto our faith with expectant hope and bubbling joy. Joy, because God has taken the initiative – God the Lord, the Saviour, the powerful One, the Holy one, the merciful One, the faithful One – God is the ultimate reason to celebrate. We wait with joyful anticipation for the light of God to enter our world, a light that can overcome any darkness and can never be extinguished. Amen.