T he reading ends with Elizabeth ’s happy declaration that her pregnancy in its fifth month at the moment, “…has pleased the Lord to take away the humiliation I have suffered. (due to her barrenness).” What barrenness might we discover in need of God’s redemption? Or what delights are in store if we are attentive to them?  What gifts are ours to share liberally once the release of that self-imposed pressure frees them?

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

Psalm 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

L uke 1:5-25 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechari'ah, of the division of Abi'jah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (7) But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (8) Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, (9) according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. (10) And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (11) And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (14) And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; (15) for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. (16) And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, (17) and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." (18) And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (19) And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. (20) And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." (21) And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. (22) And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. (23) And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. (24) After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, (25) "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." 

Meditation by Maryanne Rouse (Creighton)

Here we are at the end of the Third Week of Advent with Christmas less than one week away!

Perhaps it is a good time to be reminded with the psalmist:  “In you, Yahweh, I take shelter…Be a sheltering rock for me, a walled fortress to save me!  You alone are my hope.”

What is it we seek shelter from?  The onslaught of the very early morning sales opportunities that battle strenuously with the inner voice, urging us to listen to the “true meaning” of Christmas?  Or the abundance of Christmas cheer: cookies, candies, and eggnogs that wage war with a previous promise to “eat healthy” this season? Or the self-imposed pressure to make this the BEST Christmas, however, we define that, that is making it impossible for us to notice the Emmanuel moments that we encounter in the faces, smiles, or loving gestures of family members?

We can relax, if we choose—difficult though it may be, and open ourselves to the gifts of this day.  A good friend wrote on a Christmas card that he sent me one July, “Christ comes everyday or He doesn’t come at all.” 

No need to spend precious moments in regretting time already “wasted” this Advent.  With God all time is eternity anyway.  With those whom we love—they will take our love (usually) whenever we choose to give it. 

The day could begin with a quiet reading of today’s Gospel which tells the story of John’s father Zechariah’s encounter with the angel, Gabriel, and his subsequent period of silence to ponder the angel’s promise of John’s birth to his “barren (until then) wife, getting on in years.”  The reading ends with Elizabeth ’s happy declaration that her pregnancy in its fifth month at the moment, “…has pleased the Lord to take away the humiliation I have suffered. (due to her barrenness).”

What barrenness might we discover in need of God’s redemption? Or what delights are in store if we are attentive to them?  What gifts are ours to share liberally once the release of that self-imposed pressure frees them?

Supplementary Reading

CHRIST ouR CoRNERSToNE

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. – Matthew 7:25

F or 16 years, I attended a Catholic school where Christian Living was a core subject. I remember how things seemed so simple then,  so black and white. When I graduated from high school, I began to realize that the world isn’t always black and white. There are many “gray areas” — experiences that will hurt, confuse and challenge you. These moments test us. It’s when the rains, floods and strong winds of our lives come that we see just the kind of foundation our houses are built on.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that the strongest foundation of them all is Jesus Christ. With Him as the cornerstone of our lives, we will not be destroyed.

Just as the words from the Breastplate of St. Patrick says, let’s bind ourselves to God’s power to lead us, teach us and watch over us. ---- Cess Cosico

REFLECTION:

What is the foundation of your life? Is it something that will crumble and fall?

Lord, You are my Sure Foundation.