MARY SETS THE STANDARD

All three readings for this fourth Sunday of Advent focus on the choice of God to bring about the birth of this special child. This Sunday we have the gospel writer, Matthew, tell the story that shows that Jesus belongs to the family of David through Joseph. This was the proper lineage in the Jewish way of counting your place of birth.

 

But focus on Mary. It is important that devout Christians always remember that whatever we say about Mary, we are talking about ourselves. She sets the standard, our place in the plan of salvation.

 

First, she is a lowly person, a young woman, without power and position in society. She is one of the many little ones of this world. She is ordinary. She is like any fifteen year old that you know. 

 

God has chosen her in the great plan of salvation for humanity. God also calls you in your lowliness, your ordinariness, to play your part in God’s plan to redeem humanity. Stand tall with Mary as one of God’s chosen ones!

 

We know that Mary struggled with the request made by the angel that she become mother. God was asking of her the impossible. To be pregnant without a live-in husband was a shameful crime. And the neighbors would not be silent about such a sin!

 

Put yourself in her shoes. But she believes and trusts in God. In all this impossibility, God would not fail to support her in this impossible task.

 

When in your life have you faced such an impossible situation? Where were you put to the test to trust in God? To walk in the pitch dark with only faith that God would get you through this terrific storm? 

 

The trip to Bethlehem was an act of violence against Mary and Joseph. The foreign rulers, the Romans, forced everyone to return to their family birthplace, to be registered. And this was done to tax the people; to make them pay for the domination of Rome. 

 

Always keep in mind that the trip to Bethlehem was an act of violence that Mary and Joseph had to endure. And how did they pay for this trip: ie.. food, lodging and feed for the animal?

 

But the great mystery of the birth of the very Son of God in Bethlehem is that Mary brought forth the very Son of God, human and divine, in her body and in her faith.

 

This is how Mary sets the standard for each believer. It will be in our faith ,our trust in the power of God to work in our lives and in our bodies (i.e., our service to others) that we are to birth the Son of God in our lives. Christ is to come alive in us.

 

It will be in our prayer, or worship, our service and care for the world, that the birth of Christ happens in the here and now. Great things are meant to happen in and through you: Christ is to be born in your faith and in your body: Your life of service and compassion).