The 4th candle of our Advent wreath is lit, the presents are wrapped, the food will soon be prepared! All our plans are coming together. The big day is upon us, excitement is in the air: it’s the long awaited release of Star Wars the Force Awakens! I’m being a little silly but it seems like there is almost as much excitement over Star Wars as there is for Christmas. Now I must admit I am a Star Wars fan. I can’t wait to see the movie. I will be practicing speaking like Yoda, I will and looking for my light sabre. Sometimes Star wars collides directly with my Catholic faith. Just the other day a friend said to me: may the force be with you and I replied: and with your spirit! Just last night I dreamed about Star wars and at the end of the dream there was our Pastor reminding all of us: I am your Father!
Sadly sometimes things like a huge movie or concert or football game or the newest release of the latest smart phone garner more attention than Christmas. For some of us we must not really know what “force” is truly with us!
As people of faith, we are called to live with the force that truly remains with us: the presence of Jesus Christ!
After answering yes to the announcement of Gabriel, Mary, now pregnant with the Son of the Most High, goes in haste to be with her older cousin Elizabeth. This of course is known as the Visitation, one of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary and the event from Scripture that motivated our own St. Jane de Chantal to name her religious order the Visitation Order. Believed to be barren, Elizabeth is now pregnant too as she is carrying John the Baptist, form nothing is impossible for God. John would become the herald of Jesus Christ, announcing his coming ministry. We are told that when these two holy women met, the infant John leaps for joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth, filled with the force of the Holy Spirit, declares Mary the mother of my Lord. In fact, Elizabeth’s words from this very Gospel give us the first half of the beautiful Hail Mary prayer!
Both of these women are filled with a force that is far greater than that force we hear about in those Star Wars movies! The power of the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and the incarnation takes place. Mary truly becomes the mother of Our Lord! That same Holy Spirit moves Mary to go to Elizabeth to be present to her cousin in the last months of her pregnancy and the delivery of John the Baptist. And it is that same Holy Spirit that moved Elizabeth to declare Mary the mother of God, in the person of Jesus Christ!
Today, on this last Sunday of Advent, as the force is truly with us, we are called to experience, in a special way, that presence of Jesus in our lives, as He comes to us with the precious gift of self. This presence of Jesus in our lives, at Christmas time and all year long, is that force we wish to have remain with us always!
So what should we do today and in the week ahead having been informed with the words of this powerful Gospel proclamation? How can we be truly, properly prepared for Christmas and beyond?
Can we focus this week on the prayers that come to us from these sections of Luke’s Gospel? We can pray the Hail Mary as Elizabeth taught us today? Always a great prayer, maybe we can focus on the Visitation this week every time we pray this prayer. And Mary’s prayer just a few verses beyond today’s reading is known as the Magnifcat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Maybe you have prayed this prayer before, maybe you never have. It’s a joyful prayer that we can pray every day but would be profoundly special this week. If still needed, find out when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available so we may enter Christmas in that wonderful state of grace.
Finally, we all know that Christmas is a special season for family gatherings and time spent with friends. These should be joy filled times but we must admit, sometimes we all have challenges. No matter what these special challenges may be, commit to being that person who exudes joy and a welcoming spirit even among the least lovable among us. Be a shining example of hospitality and Visitation with those placed in your presence over the coming days and weeks. Remember too that there are those who have no one to share Christmas with at all. Perhaps we are aware of a neighbor or acquaintance who will be alone at Christmas. Can we go to them in haste and share presence and joy with such as these! Just our presence can be a great present!
Advent is almost complete, Christmas is here, and the force is with us.
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