4th Sunday of Advent - Lord & Message of Life

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21, 2003
Micah 5:1-4 / Psalm 79 (80) / Hebrews 10:5-10 / Luke 1:39-45

QUOTES

"God, If You Are Real . . ." (Authorship Unknown)

An atheist professor was teaching a college class and he told the class that he was going to prove that there was not a God. He said, "God if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!"

Ten minutes went by. He kept taunting God, saying, "Here I am God, I'm still waiting."

He got down to the last couple of minutes and a BIG 240 pound football player happened to walk by the door and heard what the professor said. The football player walked in the classroom and in the last minute, he walked up, hit the professor full force, and sent him flying off the platform. The professor got up, obviously shaken and said, "Where did you come from, and why did you do that?"

The football player replied, "God was busy; He sent me!"

Kampi und Zeugnis der bekennenden Kirche by Albert Einstein

Being a lover of freedom, when the (Nazi) revolution came, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks . . . Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration for it because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to
stand for intellectual and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.

HOMILY REFLECTIONS

Although the prophet Micah spoke about the future coming of the Messiah as a prince of peace, the remnant from Israel and Judah would come to largely anticipate a warrior savior. They had been conquered and downtrodden. They had paid a heavy price for their infidelity but God had not utterly turned his face from them. Interestingly, they saw themselves punished for compromising their faith and trust in God while throughout the centuries they were mocked by the conquering peoples for their fidelity to the ancient faith and the God of Abraham.

“He himself will be peace.” It is true, but the peace of God in Jesus Christ is a gift with which we still struggle and misunderstand. Certainly, one dynamic of it is peace between peoples. But, this is not simply a lack of belligerence. The peace of the Good News is radical and all-embracive. We turn on our televisions and open our newspapers and there are almost daily reports of dead soldiers overseas. Everyone is on guard against terrorists and now it looks like North Korea has a nuke that can reach the West Coast. The new millennium is starting to look an awful lot like the old one. The problem remains the same; there can be no true and lasting peace until there is a change in our minds and hearts. Early Christians prided themselves on not resisting aggression. They turned the other cheek and they announced forgiveness to their murderers in imitation of Christ. They also suffered and died in droves. After about three centuries of facing the sword, fiery stake, cross, and wild beasts, believers took up armaments in the service of a would be emperor, Constantine. Their bets proved fortuitous and Christianity would emerge as the privileged religion of the empire. However, as history shows us, such a victory would not guarantee perpetual peace and harmony.

What do we mean by “peace”? Despite the collapse of European Stalinism, the Asian communists understand it in two ways. First, it is a ploy used with enemies to insure time and resources in building up an arsenal to wage war. Second, it is the integration of each person as an instrument of the state and such an amalgamation is not complete until the whole world is part of the Marxist mechanism. While there is diversity in Islam, the business about the very word for their religion meaning “peace” is somewhat inexact. Before entering Afghanistan and Iraq, Western leaders almost fell over each other in explaining that our actions were against a few terrorists and dictators, not against Islam. There was no new crusade. Such clarifications were appropriate, even if they did over stress a point. Interviews with Islamic moderates in the U.S. do not reflect the positions of many fundamentalists worldwide. Islam is not all the same. Would we ask an average member of a Baptist congregation about Roman Catholicism? No. A cursory reading of the Koran makes it evident that peace is understood as the submission of all to Islam, if need be with force. Unless it is rejected or mitigated, such a mindset will never acknowledge religious freedom and always stand in opposition to West. After all, how can one have true peace with the “Great Satan,” a widespread label for the United States? As for ourselves, how do we understand peace? Lack of aggression is certainly part of it, as in our desire for security, and justice is a theme we hear much about as well, but how far do we go to achieve the peace we crave? Pearl Harbor and 9-11 have fueled our mistrust of much of the world. Apart from the politics of late, there is the danger of creating a mentality that perverts a command of Christ, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It becomes, rather, “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” This is not purely a global strategy, but how many people live their lives.

The Jewish understanding of SHALOM or peace is a salutation and benediction of friendship and cooperation. It is an invocation of divine blessing, for health, prosperity, and good standing with God. At Mass, Catholics extend the sign of peace to one another. We are one in the Lord. We are all brothers and sisters who should love and care about one another. Peace is the realization of divine love in our lives. At least these understandings are what should be present; however, enmity, a lust for revenge, and various forms of racism can get in the way. Here is the tragedy. Peace is not simply an enemy staying on his side of the fence. It is about the removal of walls and fences. It is about mutual good will and cooperation.

The peace among nations must also reflect a peace among fellow citizens, in the Church, in our neighborhoods, in our families, and in us as individuals. Should it surprise us that when the world is at war that our small part of it should also suffer unrest? Are there people with whom we refuse to associate? Are there family members who have not spoken for years? Did we get mad at someone and deliberately hurt them? Did someone do this to us? Do we pray for our enemies and try to forgive? Do we look for forgiveness from God so as to live in peace with him?

The martyrs of the Church knew the peace of God even when there was nothing left for them to do in defense of their lives. They knew that no matter what the world should strip away from them, they had an imperishable treasure in heaven. They knew that God loved them and that they were friends of Jesus. May we learn this lesson too and know the peace that the world cannot give.
The Letter to the Hebrews stresses that had there been no Christmas there would have been no Good Friday and Easter. Just as the psalm stresses “the man . . . given [God’s] strength,” we know that God did more than that. God, himself, took on our humanity that we might share in his divinity (see the prayer for mixing water into the wine at Mass). Jesus enters the human family so that he could offer up his life as an oblation for all the sins of the world. Jesus is the faithful servant who makes his flesh the sign of the new covenant with God. The New Law builds upon and replaces the Old.

Turning to the Gospel, Mary greets Elizabeth and the unborn John the Baptist leaps in the womb. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and echoes the Hail Mary prayer, “blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Next she says, “Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” Elizabeth’s words are very telling and they are affirmed as from the Spirit of God. John’s actions here parallel his activity thirty some years later in the Jordan River when he baptizes Christ. The unborn prophet cannot speak but he moves his mother to speak for him. She affirms that the unborn Christ is already her Lord. Jesus is Lord from the womb. Since he is the Prince of Peace, this gives credence to the late Mother Teresa’s contention that there can be no peace in the world while we are at war with the child in the womb. Every child is a reflection of the Christ-child.

There is a temptation for homilists during Advent and Christmas to sidestep the pro-life message. Such readings as this make it hard to do so. Advent speaks against abortion as Christmas is a condemnation of infanticide and partial-birth abortion. Why are priests and deacons silent? Let me relate a personal experience from a few years ago. I mentioned the seasonal pro-life themes at a Christmas Mass. A couple of people stood up during the homily and remained standing throughout the liturgy. Several days later the bishop called in response to a letter. A woman wrote, “My daughter only comes to Mass a couple times a year and this priest ruined it for us! He had no business talking about abortion or saying how anyone guilty of it should go to Confession before receiving communion. My daughter cried all night. She swears that she will never go to Mass again and I will find another church! By the way, this will cost you all our very generous donations!” I think the money element is why I got in trouble. But my conscience was troubled because the purpose of every homily is continued conversion and not alienation of God’s people. I think I was right, and there was no particular condemnation of anyone, just a proclamation of the Gospel of Life; but, while my head understood, my heart has never stopped grieving for the strayed lost lamb. No names were given and I could not follow up the message, except in prayer.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1117 - St. Thomas Becket born (martyred Archbishop of Canterbury)
• 1620 - Mayflower pilgrims (103 Puritans) land at Plymouth Rock
• 1891 - 18 students play 1st basketball game (Springfield College)
• 1898 - Scientists Pierre & Marie Curie discover radium
• 1946 - Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" premieres
• 1991 - Soviet Union dissolves 11 of 12 republics, forms commonwealth

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Heavenly Father, during this pregnant season of Advent, we prepare to give birth anew to your Son. Filled with confidence in your guiding hand, we offer these petitions:

That prodigal children will return to the living faith of Jesus this Christmas and regularly participate with us in the Eucharist, we pray . . .

That our men and women overseas will be kept safe and know that they are very much loved by their friends and family at home, we pray . . .

That those who are sick and those who find themselves alone during the holidays will know the constant companionship of Jesus and experience the love of the Church, we pray . . .

That as we celebrate the entry of the God-Man into our world, may the good Lord give an even greater welcome to those who leave this world for the joy of heaven, we pray . . .

That there will be an increase of priests, deacons, and religious for service in the Church, we pray . . .

That this season of the child will inspire us to do more to protect our children and to safeguard the right to life, we pray . . .

Almighty God, filled with hope that the message of peace proclaimed by your Son will be heard and embraced by all who seek you, we offer these intentions in Christ name. Amen.

PRESENTATION TIP

The Advent Wreath has become a popular symbol in our churches during Advent. Traditional wreaths have three purple candles signifying the penitential tone of the season. The rose colored candle on the third week once signified a lessening of penitential practices in anticipation of Christmas. The renewal has signified a shift where all white candles may be used for Advent as a season of “devout and joyful expectation” (General Norms of the Liturgical Year and Calendar, no. 39).

Some churches also honor new mothers during the seasons of Advent and Christmas.

PRAYER FOR THE HOMILIST

Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear my supplication. I beseech you to enlighten the darkness of my mind by the grace of your visitation. Stir up your might and come to me. Comfort me with your saving power and by your grace grant forgiveness that I may not rattle on as the hypocrites do but speak with a pure tongue and blameless heart. Let us all remember that we are temples of the Holy Spirit and that grace restores us to the likeness of Christ. Lord, live in my words and actions so that others will come to know you through your poor servant. Do not allow me to be afraid and to hide from you. Come dear Lord, and do not delay. I may cower before your justice but take confidence and hope in your infinite mercy. Amen.