ADVENT GREETINGS The Twenty-second Day of Advent 2014 The Fourth Sunday, December 21 I say this every year: “I can’t believe that today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.” Three weeks ago the Church began her journey in churches across the world. For many people these twenty-one days have been a titillating adventure into the realm of awe and mystery. Hundreds of thousands have been touched, again, by the “reason for the season”. A virgin and her husband – people of unassuming means and devoted faith in one another and their God. They themselves took a mandated journey for a required census. While in the little town of Bethlehem, where they would register with the government, there was the birth of a Baby Boy to this peasant couple. That Story still produces fascination. So now our journey ends. But wait. Does it end? Not yet. Even though this is the last Sunday of Advent, it is not the end of Advent. There are still four more days, including today, in our preparation. So we still wait and the wait is part of the preparation for Christmas. Advent’s theme on the fourth Sunday traditionally has been love. “Love came down at Christmas” says the opening lyric of Christina Rossetti’s carol. Love did come down. As a reminder, so did Hope, Peace, and Joy. God so loved the world that He gave His only unique Love – His Son, Jesus. Wonder if Mary sensed that unique Love on the day Gabriel came down to tell her what God wanted to happen? As I have read and re-read the main Gospel lesson for this fourth Sunday from Luke 1:26-38, which details the Annunciation to Mary, I believe that she did. How could she have said “Yes” to the angel without knowing that God loved her enough to “favor” her as the choice for carrying and birthing a Child who epitomized love? This Child was Love. This Child was God. If the text is read carefully it is quite observable that Mary did have a choice, just as we have a choice regarding God’s desire. Yes she could have said “No” and articulated a number of legitimate reasons; but, she didn’t. Perhaps she was able to affirm God’s desire because she took Gabriel at his word: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (v. 37). How true! The American Standard Version of 1901 captures the essence in a more literal translation: “For no word from God shall be void of power”. Today’s New International Version of 2005 follows the old ASV: “For no word from God will ever fail”. God’s word that day, through the messenger Gabriel, was a word of powerful and unfailing love. It was throughout Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’ birth. It was throughout His life and ministry (Mary’s life and ministry, for that matter), including His suffering, death, and resurrection. It still is. The word of love from God is not void of power and it will never fail. Love came down at Christmas to you and me and all humanity. It is still coming down. Somebody needs your love today. Somebody needs mine. Over the course of these remaining days, do remember that God has found “favor” with you – so much so that you are His choice for carrying the word of love to those in need of love, even those who are hard to love. Who needs that love during these closing days of Advent? Who needs love this Christmas? They need it throughout the year. Grant the word of love from God with utter sincerity, which means demonstrating that word with action. Someone is waiting for it. You are waiting to give it. You are prepared to give it. Giving the word of love will never be void of power and it will never fail. So with Mary say “Yes” to God.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 12:36:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015