Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
(Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:36-48)
Why is Mary troubled by the angel’s greeting? Is not “hail” a common salutation? Perhaps it was in some sectors in the first
century, but not in Palestine. There a
Jewish person was more likely to say “shalom,” meaning peace, when
meeting another. The Greek word for hail
– the word used in today’s gospel passage – is chaїre. It was used as a greeting, but it more
properly meant rejoice. Mary is
troubled because she had no reason to rejoice at that precise moment.
The word chaїre is repeated by the
angel who announced to the shepherds Jesus’ birth. It is also said of the disciples when they
see the risen Lord in John’s gospel.
Mary and the whole world can rejoice because God is fulfilling the
promise to David of an eternal king.
This king will conquer the enemies of Israel and bring the world
together in peace.
Jesus has brought peace to billions of people over the
centuries. Yet his peace is still not
universal. This past year, the greatest
European war in over seventy-five years has broken out in the Ukraine. Human beings, images of God, are being
blown apart. Many are suffering from
cold, fear, and exhaustion. No one
should blame Christ for failing to establish peace. He did all that is necessary by dying on the
cross. We must look at ourselves with
the question, how do I contribute to injustice, hatred, and even violence?
