Hey there, Church fans! There are two important times in scripture where someone dances. One of them is in today’s gospel. Check out the video here.
10 Quick Christmas jokes:
- Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? Because it soots him.
- What did the English teacher call Santa’s helpers? Subordinate Clauses.
- What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
- What do you call a chicken at the North Pole? Lost.
- What is it called when a snowman has a temper tantrum? A meltdown.
- What would you get if you ate all the Christmas tree decorations? Tinselitis.
- What kind of linens to gingerbread people put on their beds? Cookie sheets.
- What did Santa say to Mrs. Claus when he saw their Christmas tree? It looks okay, but you could Spruce it up a bit.
- What do you call an elf that runs away from Santa’s Workshop? A rebel without a Claus!
- Why was the candy cane so expensive? It was in mint condition!
This Fourth Sunday of Advent, we shift gears a bit. For the first three weeks we have been preparing practically and spiritually for the Lord’s second coming in glory and majesty. We just wrapped up the Advent Triduum, “In Praise of Mary—Woman of Faith, Hope and Charity.” Most folks have commented rightly that this one was more about prayer, penance, and quiet expectation than our Lenten Missions tend to be. This was done on purpose.
Now, in this Fourth Week of Advent, we shift our focus to preparing to celebrate his first coming in poverty and humility. It is time for unmitigated joy.
To help us, the Church invites us to contemplate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.
There are two times that scripture emphasizes dancing. The first is found in 2 Samuel 6:14 where David dances before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant is brought up to Jerusalem. The second is in today’s gospel, (Lk 1:39-45) where John the Baptist leaps for joy before the Lord in the womb of Elizabeth.
In the first, David dances with abandon that the Lord is in the midst of his people. In the understanding of the day, wherever the Ark was, there was God’s dwelling. John the Baptist leaps in the womb for the same reason. Only this time, he dances before the new Ark of the Lord in anticipation of the new covenant of grace.
The Ark of the old covenant had been lost when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem around 586 B.C. It’s whereabouts are now known only to God.
But here, in the womb of Mary, God dwells among his people once again. Mary is rightly called the Ark of the New Covenant of Grace. The holy child in her womb is called Emmanuel, a name which means “God is with us.” Even in the womb of Elizabeth, John leaps for joy in the presence of the Lord.
Now, I’m going to digress here a little bit.
When the pastoral council met earlier this month, I asked them what the mood of the parish was.
The confirmed much of what I had observed. Here are some bullet points from the minutes of that discernment:
- People are emotionally tired.
- Parishioners need a pep talk, and tough love;
- we’re all in this together;
- we should be patient with each other, demonstrating our faith combined with “I understand” at the same time
- “Get it done.”
Clinically, it’s been a tough time; everyone is weary.
I get it. It just doesn’t seem to end. It seems we just get done with one surge or variant and then are told that another one might be on the horizon.
It’s not unlike that meme that’s going around:
“Mary, exhausted and just having gotten baby Jesus to bed is approached by a young man who thinks to himself, “What this lady needs is a drum solo!”
And yet, when I start to feel like that, I think back on what was going on at the very time that Mary made haste and went to Elizabeth. As I mentioned, times were tough. There was a 30% chance that the children in their womb would survive their first year. The Jewish homeland was under the occupation of a distant, foreign Empire. Corruption was rampant in politics. A weak governor ruled the land with a collaborating tyrant in the local puppet government. Tax collectors took more than what was required. Thieves roamed the highways.
And yet, the baby in her womb leaped for joy!
He knew that “God is with us.”
Our own day feels a similar socio-political malaise.
There is a lack of trust of public institutions
Many urban centers are in chaos.
Or just simply filthy places of rot and decay.
An uncharitable polemic pervades public discourse People are not treasured, but labeled.
Conservative – liberal
Social drone – anti-vaxer
Right wing – left wing
Urban – Rural…
ENOUGH!
This is a time faith
This is a time for hope.
This is a for charity.
This is a time for the joy of the gospel.
This is a time for saints.
It starts here. It starts now.
The time for excuses is over.
The time for blame is past.
We are not special.
We are no different than any other time human history.
We Christians are the heirs to a great heritage.
It is our prayers that will change human hearts.
It is our actions that will improve our society.
It is our witness that will transform the world.
And if not the whole world, then at least that little part of the world with which we come into contact.
For like Mary, we bring Christ to the world.
Through his Church and her sacraments,
Our God is with us.
Who shall make him known…?
Who shall proclaim him to the world…?
if not you and me?
The world in silence waits.
The time for excuses is past.
Now is the time for saints.
Now is the time for the joy of the gospel to transform the world.
Our God is with us.
Now is the time for joy.