Happy Third Sunday of Advent!
The liturgy of this day begins with the word “Rejoice!”, in anticipation of the Christmastide season which draws near. Eleven days now separate us from the nativity of Jesus the Lord. Think back to a time when you were eleven days away from the birth of your child, or grandchild, or sibling, or niece or nephew. Remember the thoughts, the feelings, the circumstances. I imagine that among all of us we’d find the entire gamut of human experiences: joy, fear, anxiety, hope, pain, desperation, calm, numbness, gratitude, faith, smallness, greatness, distraction, focus, the need for it to be over, the need for more time.
And think of what Mary and Joseph were doing eleven days out. Undoubtedly, they would have been packing and preparing for the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the Roman census. What a time, of all times, to be forced away from your own home. The world around them did not stop for their convenience. I can’t imagine having to so deeply surrender your own hopes and expectations during such a pivotal moment of life—presuming you’d give birth at home, with the help of family and community, where everything has been prepared and made ready. And now, staring down the reality of regrettably changed plans. Walking with the Holy Family through Advent provides an important perspective on life that we need. The prayers of this day command us, “rejoice.” In the uncomfortable pressures and unexpected changes surrounding the Lord’s birth, God still asked Mary and Joseph to rejoice in His plans for them.
On a human level, that can seem a little cold-hearted. Hey, I know these important, legitimate, responsible plans aren’t going your way. Just buck up and try to be happy. You’ll figure it out. It could be worse, right? … But we know that kind of conversation doesn’t console anyone. When God speaks of joy, it is not the promise of freedom from life’s wild turns and thorny brambles. We don’t celebrate or hope for emotional distress, psychological frustration, spiritual confusion, or physical exhaustion. Mary and Joseph surely did not rejoice in an unforeseen future for its own sake. They rejoiced in the sure knowledge that, no matter what the future would bring, they would meet the moment in the company of God, whom Mary was carrying in her womb.
A beautiful thing happens in the presence of God. We come to understand for ourselves what an emptiness and terrible pain it is to live without Him. We see how He keeps us safe, how unconditional His faithfulness is, and how strong His power is to work for our good—whether or not the times are good. The presence of God is a consolation different from even the important, legitimate, responsible goods of life. As we continue our journey through Advent, we keep in mind that the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem still unfolds somewhere in our lives or in the lives of friends, family, and those around us. Pray every day that God would help you practice living in the knowledge of His presence, so that no matter what the future brings, you can meet each moment in the consolation of His company.
Fr. Brian