21 December 2016 - what we are waiting for

 

[ Today's Readings ]

 
Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.

How poignant in the midst of winter to imagine the coming of the eternal spring. It is brought to us by the bridegroom who comes, "springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills" that separate heaven from earth. As Christmas approaches "he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices". He draws near to earth. He does so because he loves us and longs for our love.

“O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”
We have been forced to hide in the clefts of the rock of this world in order to survive. But now, as he comes to us, we are now called out into the open by our Savior. In his presence we can come out from the rocks without fear. His love is stronger protection than any hiding place we can find. We are now free to shine our light, to worship without fear, free from the slavery that fear imposes.

This is why Elizabeth is so elated by the coming of the bridegroom to her even while he is yet hidden in the womb of Mary.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Elizabeth is sufficiently attentive that she recognizes when the child in her womb rejoices and why. The coming of the Savior is yet hidden and mysterious. But we can share in the joy of Elizabeth and John the Baptist if we are attentive. His coming in the manger, in the Eucharist, and in our hearts, needs to be seen with our inner vision using the eyes of our hearts. But if we provide a place of stillness and quiet and look with sincerity and expectation we can know a joy that is no less great than that of Elizabeth. For though the infant Savior comes to meet her he wants to come even closer to us, especially in the Eucharist.

Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

The grace of this season is to recognize and welcome the one who never ceases to come to us. We are empowered to ever greater levels of union with the bridegroom who comes. So come, LORD Jesus!

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.