Fourth Sunday of Advent

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
21st December 2014

Mary and the Mystery of Christmas by Rev. Fr. Sertillanges

Jesus is born of a woman. But that Woman bears such a title as will not allow her to be confounded with any other woman. She is the Ideal Woman, clothed in all beauty, crowned with all grace. Her privileges are so great, it would seem that an eternity had spent itself in clothing her with loveliness. Mary is a virgin, and she must ever remain a virgin. The earth must bring forth its fruit, and the Fruit being superior to the power necessary to its existence, God reserved to Himself the work of begetting it, and He begot it, by His own power, in the womb of Mary. And to what purpose this unheard-of cooperation of God Almighty with one of His creatures? In order to form a body and a soul composing together a human nature, which human nature was to be borne by a Divine Person.

All of Christ's life can be epitomized in these few words: Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Lake, Jerusalem. Nazareth signifies mystery and silence. The Lake signifies work. Jerusalem signifies conflict and suffering. Thus was His life as one long day, with its work and its burdens, its silence and its pain. In the day of Jesus, Bethlehem is the morning, the fragrant freshness of dawn, the first smile of Heaven, the gentle breeze that exhales new life and gives forth perfumes rich and rare, such as we dream of when contemplating the first fair Paradise where man was made. Bethlehem! What glad rejoicing rings in that name! It awakens echoes of Angels' songs.

God's time had come for fulfilling the hopes of His people; but He looked not on the great or mighty ones, not on the religious or political chiefs of the earth. He chose from a poor, despised village a humble child called Miriam, or Mary. Mary was like those young girls who may be seen nowadays at Nazareth, on the road to the fountain, grave and modest of mien, and clothed in the traditional costume of the women of her race, which consisted of a many-coloured tunic, a white veil, and a girdle round her waist, with one hand holding her pitcher, filled at the well, while with her other hand she drew her veil around her. This was the instrument God chose for the accomplishment of His designs.

While this child of scarcely fifteen prayed in her humble dwelling beneath the rock, God sent an ambassador to her from His throne in Heaven, one of those great beings who, in spite of their superior nature, do not disdain to associate with the human race, for the glory of their Father and ours. The Angel made known his request, and, Mary's consent being given, the mystery was accomplished. Heaven bowed down, and filled earth with hope in filling a bosom with mystery and a heart with love.