And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.”
(Lk 1:46-49)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! (Phil 4:4).
As I write these words, we have just celebrated the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The rose vestments and candle on the Advent wreath remind us that the Lord is near. And therefore, there is always cause for rejoicing.
Six months ago, I was involved in an accident which nearly took my life. Today my heart is full of gratitude to God as I am restored in body, mind and spirit. And my heart overflows with gratitude to you! The support of your love and prayers during these months has been a balm to my spirit. God has heard your prayers. I begin my slow return to ministry with a renewed conviction that God is good, and that God is faithful. You have been Christ’s face to me!
As Mary proclaims that her “spirit rejoices in God (her) savior,” she is experiencing anything but tranquility in her life. She has only recently encountered the Angel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. And that this holy child would be the Son of God. How did she explain this to Joseph? What were her neighbors in Nazareth saying about her? Mary, frightened and overwhelmed, said to the angel, “How can this be?” Yet in all of this, Mary trusted in God’s faithfulness. Even amidst the turmoil, she knew a deep, abiding peace…and yes even joy… in knowing that God was with her.
In the tumult of our world and our lives, may we open wide our hearts to the Prince of Peace whose nativity we celebrate. We celebrate the birth of Jesus not only as an historical event, but as a present reality. Right now, right here, He is Emmanuel, God with us. So let us rejoice!
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Jim