FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, December 19, 2021
(Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45)
They will soon begin to do so. At the end of December the
media always report the most impactful events of the year. They will give first
place to the riot in Washington last January. They should mention that the
number of deaths attributed to the pandemic in 2021 exceeded that in 2020.
Possibly they will include in the report that the swimmer, Caeleb Dressel, won
five gold medals in the Summer Olympics. If we were to name the most impactful
events in all of history, what would come first?
At least for people of the Western Hemisphere, it has to be
the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus has been the star by which many people have
navigated their lives for two millennia. In today's Gospel Saint Luke gives us
a part of the story of the birth of Jesus. As a good storyteller, Saint Luke
reveals his story gradually. He explains step by step the events leading us to
Bethlehem. He begins with the announcement to Zacharias of the birth of his son
even though he and his wife Elizabeth are old. He then tells of the
annunciation to Mary that she will give birth to Jesus even though she is a
virgin. Then he deals with the episode we read today: Mary's visit to
Elizabeth. This incident is highlighted by the leap that John makes before
Jesus while the two are occupying their mothers' wombs. John is acknowledging
Jesus as greater than he is. John will only preach repentance while Jesus will
become the source of forgiveness.
In the first reading Micah prophesies the place and the
result of the birth of Jesus Christ. He says that the Messiah will be born in
Bethlehem. It continues saying that his leadership will lead his people to peace. By
saying "peace" here, we do not mean only the absence of war. No,
peace is better considered as a sense of inner and outer well-being. The second
reading of the Letter to the Hebrews indicates what peace consists of and how
Jesus achieves it. Peace is the removal of sins so that the person does not
worry about his ultimate destiny. Jesus won for humans eternal life by
sacrificing himself on the cross. Because Jesus never sinned, he did not have
to offer a sacrifice for himself. The benefit of his sacrifice was transferred
to his brothers and sisters in faith, which include us. We are freed from all
guilt when we unite with him in Baptism or Penance.
Yes, it is difficult for our swollen pride to ask for
forgiveness of our sins. However, there are golden examples throughout history.
A few years ago, a woman turned from being an abortion provider to being a pro-life
leader. Mrs. Abby Johnson had received two abortions when she took charge of an
abortion clinic. Then one day while she was viewing an abortion with the
ultrasound, she experienced revulsion. In short order she left the directorship
of the clinic to join with people opposing this abomination. Mrs. Johnson says
that she frequently prays Psalm 30. This psalm tells of being delivered from
the jaws of death. She adds that the psalm illustrates how Christ has become an
example for her. She says, “When I felt
that I had no hope left, he was waiting for me, waiting to give me joy. "
Maybe we haven't sinned like Abby Johnson. However, it is
true that we are all sinners. All of us have put our will before God's will.
Christ has saved us from swollen pride and from every other sin. We only have
to acknowledge our guilt and ask his forgiveness. It may not be easy, but it is
worth it. Once we do, we are going to experience true Christmas peace.
