Advent 4 2015

4 Advent 2015 (Year C)

“Blessed are you who believed what was told to you…”

Recently a colleague friend of mine sent me this short recruitment video from the Dominican Order of Preachers. The video follows quickly three or four men professing their vows, and has interview clips of members of the order explaining what it means to them. But the whole video begins with (I suppose) the abbot preaching at the profession service, and paraphrasing the words we heard today—the words of encouragement that Elizabeth  offers to Mary. “Blessed are you who believed what was told to you.”

Actually the whole reading is a good one. The Gospel writer has already told about the Annunciation—when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she was being asked to bear the Son of God. In spite of being a virgin, and being as-yet-unmarried, the young woman said “yes” to God’s invitation, and she became pregnant.

Of course, in those days, it would have been a very dangerous thing to be pregnant and unwed. So, like any good, upstanding family from the 1950s, Mary was sent to stay with a distant relative to keep her out of trouble. However, for whatever kind of fear or danger Mary may have been facing, we see in our Gospel reading today that Mary is greeted with such care and joy. Luke’s Gospel tells us that as soon as she enters the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s own unborn child leapt in her womb. And after greeting Mary as an honored person, Elizabeth ends with these words of encouragement: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

The reason I think this is such a profound statement—not just in the context of the reading—but likewise with regard to the video from the Dominicans is because I think all of us tend to forget that there is something ‘blessed’ about holding on to belief about what God has told us.

The point is that in our lives, especially if we’re serious about practicing our faith, there are places in which God speaks to us, even calls us certain places and actions. The difficult thing about this, of course, is trying to discern whether or not what we’ve heard is really from God to begin with—but likewise holding on to the trust that whatever has been told to us is worthy of believing.

Personally, I remember looking for work after college, and realizing that I might be called to the priesthood. Of course, we were already poor and in debt, and really the idea of being scrutinized and processed, and then still 3 years of graduate school did not sound terribly appealing. And while there were times throughout the whole process when I thought I wanted to quit, or even thought I should have my head examined for ever starting the whole adventure—I did in fact make it through, and still believe I followed the correct path.

Now, I suppose it’s easier to imagine God speaking promises, or calling people to religious vocations than it is to believe that God might be speaking things into our lives all the time. But, I’ve heard a number of people who’ve told me that they believe God is calling them to leave a job, or take another. Some have talked about hear God’s leading with regard to family situations, or even financial issues. The point is, if we’re listening (especially in some of the more seemingly desperate situations in life), God speaks to us, and even leads us if we’re willing to hear.

But then there are those places where we hear from God, and then we find ourselves having to wait—sometimes years—before we ever see the fulfilment of what has been told to us. In these situations, I think it’s most important to hold on as best we can to what we believe we’ve  understood God to be saying, continue to pray for clarity—even ask others for help in discerning and understanding it—and then, it’s been my experience that even those things will come to pass. And perhaps it’s not simply a matter of timing, but it may also be that the exercise of faithful prayer and discernment with other people may be what is most needed for us. All the same, blessed are you who believed what was told to you.

Anyway, as this Advent season is winding down, and our sights are set on Christmas—maybe we’re a little less cognizant of this being a time of preparation, and anticipation for the return of Jesus. And yet, there is still something reflective about this tie of year that does make us take stock of some things—perhaps its New Years resolutions, or promising to be nice to your cousins at Christmas dinner—whatever. But, what about taking time to consider, or even ask God what you might be called to…

I mean, as people of God, and as the Body of Christ, we already have a certain set of directives—certainly for us the Baptismal Covenant, but also the call to love God ad love our neighbor as ourselves. But, as individuals, redeemed by God and called Christ’s own—what talents may God be calling forth for us to use to live more fully into our call to Christian life? What gifts might God be calling us to share with others that would share the life and love of Christ? How might God be calling us to take our share in Kingdom work?

My hope for all of us in this season, and the New Year, that we’ll ponder these things in our hearts—just as Mary did when the angel gave her his message. I hope we’ll take these questions seriously, and that we’ll do what we can to understand the things God may be telling us. And may we continue to be encouraged by the words of Elizabeth: “Blessed are you who believed what was told to you.”