Do we live by the Law or relationship? It’s not easy to answer. During this past year we encountered people who have reacted to the unknown with fear or anxiety. Laws and rules give some people comfort.
Making wise decisions according to our own best interest and the interest of others seems, for many, a challenge. We seem to have a sense of paralysis or COVID19 fatigue. We are tired of being careful.
We are tired of ‘enlightening’ others as to why we all must remain vigilant on every front. Instead of caring for another, living in relationship, we seem to be retreating to our lonely corners. We are tired of trying.
We are all just plain tired.
focused on the Lord’s Presence. To live by the Law is one way of creating a fence or parameter of protection from our sin-filled selves. For God’s Chosen people, the Law was a welcome change to direct their path after having no sense of hope for generations.
The Law gave them purpose, direction, discipline, balance, a way to embrace the covenant relationship they’d lost. God made a covenant with Abraham which was passed to Isaac, then to Jacob and through many generations.
It’s covenant relationship that is of the upmost importance. God sought relationship through the Law but the Law, with so many rules surrounding the Law, seemed to separate the Chosen People from God.
Yet, Laws do not kindle that spark of hope which keeps us going through the darkest days.
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All seemed unable to ignite a spark of HOPE.
The fire in the leaders had gone out. Exacting the Law and prideful arrogance seemed to be the rule of the day.
Was there none left to stoke the fire that kept God’s remnant alive? All was dark, oh so dark, neglected, hopeless.
The souls of of God’s chosen seemed shriveled up. Yet, this is what the average person in the marketplace saw. Those who were the ‘movers and shakers’ of the day seemed to breed darkness while a tiny flicker of light was about to ignite in the faithful.
God’s plan was well in hand. God knew that the covenant-spark would pass through the people God chose and would never be snuffed out. God’s plan was to ignite this spark with an explosion of new life, in God’s perfect timing.
God spoke to Mary through Gabriel. She affirmed God’s words. Mary, who maintained an intimate relationship with God, received the Spark of hope, a new creation, because she said, ‘yes.’
Joseph, who also retained that same intimacy with God, was specially chosen to protect Mary and guide this Holy Family through their arduous journey to Bethlehem. Joseph was used by God to ‘cover’ Mary as she gave birth in an open lean-to where animals were fed.
Before creation, all was black-dark. Then God spoke. Creation began. Light pierced the darkness and, with light, humans could see all of God’s creation. And then it happened again. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God . . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
And the Word became THE word. THE LIVING WORD . . . the Word was but a spark who was from before creation. God ignited this ‘Spark’ in a new way.
This Spark who was always with God . . . was God. This tiniest spark of God’s Presence spent nine months within Mary’s womb.
A tiny spark that would light up the world, was carried by faith inside Mary and protected by Joseph. Mary was called to be the new Ark that held the New Covenant, Jesus, the Christ.
The Spark of Life, the Word, burst forth to ‘catch’ those seeking to be one with God. This little Flame of God’s presence became a Fire in the hearts of those who understood.
This Spark drew people from all over the known world. God in the flesh, Jesus, the Christ, became the flame to be planted in the souls of all humankind.
Why did it take so long? What was God doing?
Why couldn’t the average person in the marketplace see any sign of that Spark of God’s presence?
People were drawn to the magnificence of the temple, not to a family of three residing in Bethlehem, in a feeding station for animals.
Yet, God drew the lowly, the ones who communed daily with God, the ones who could embrace the Spark of God in the flesh into their soul, who would be mesmerized by the new Light guiding them.
Those sensitive to the spirit felt the Spark of new life, Jesus, the Christ, the only begotten of the Father, God
from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, of ONE Being with the Father, through Him all things were made.
May we all glory in the explosion of God’s presence in us as we continue to celebrate Christ in the Mass . . . Christ-Mass.
Merry Christmas!
Amen
