(Audio)
The birth of Mary was the beginning of the fullness of time about which Paul wrote.
when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law (see Galatian 4:4-5).
What was the fullness of time? It was the time after the Lord had given them up, about which Micah wrote, when the northern tribes of Israel would be scattered and when the tribe of Judah would be subjugated. During this period there was not a true heir to David who was sovereign over Israel. There was no shepherd like David to shepherd the flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD his God. And so the fullness of time was no trivial matter. It would be inaugurated when "she who is to give birth has borne". It was then that the the tribes would be reunited, and more, the blessings promised to the Gentiles would be poured out.
And they shall remain, for now his greatness
shall reach to the ends of the earth;
he shall be peace.
If the fullness of time was to be the beginning, not only of the restoration of Israel, but of the hope of all the nations, then it makes sense that the mother, the one who was to give birth, would herself be carefully selected, chosen for the role. It is almost as though the fullness of time was precisely waiting upon the one sufficiently free to consent to the action of God in her life and so enter the world as he desired. For God did not want to force his way into his creation, nor contradict the free will with which he imbued his creatures. He chose instead a hidden vessel, a surprising and unguessed path by which the one who was to bear was made ready and able to consent to God's work in her life.
Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word (see Luke 1:38).
It is therefore her birth that we celebrate today, a birth that paved the way and opened the door for the fullness of time to begin, for him in whom "dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily" to enter the world.
Joseph rightly held his betrothed in awe and honor, and sensed himself to be unworthy of her. When the time came for her to give birth and unleash the fullness of time on the world he feared that he himself would somehow corrupt the gift and felt that he must step back.
But if he had no suspicion of her, how could he be a just man, and yet seek to put her away, being immaculate? He sought, to put her away, because he saw in her a great sacrament, to approach which he thought himself unworthy.- Origen
In celebrating the Nativity of Mary we celebrate the wonderful way in which God prepared for his own coming into the world, the gift by which he enabled the human race to cooperate with and welcome that coming. We too are tempted to think ourselves unworthy, like Joseph. And unlike him, most of us are far from being entirely righteous. Yet because God gave Mary to us her fiat can become ours, just Joseph was persuaded to set himself in agreement with it by the message of angel.
Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
This then is the message for today: "do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home". The spouse of the Holy Spirit was given to the human race not just to give birth to Jesus at that time and place but to help us to receive the same word and bear the same fruit in our lives today. She desires to be our mother, giving birth to images of her Son, men and women in whom he himself will dwell.
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
No comments:
Post a Comment