Commentary
Luke 1: 26 - 38
A Long Plan
The event of the Annunciation can sometimes appear simple, even mundane. A private event happened to a simple young woman, in an insignificant town of a territory occupied by foreign forces. There were no red carpets, drum rolls or floats.
It is important that believers recognize how incredible God's way is. It is beyond human imagination and standards that God favors and chooses one of God's lowly servants. In fact, that is a part of God's mysterious design.
And often times, the focus is on how a simple woman of faith, out of obedience to God's will, changed the course of human history.
All of that is true.
Yet, we should not allow the apparent simplicity of the event of the Annunciation lead us to think that God ever takes things lightly.
"Nothing will be impossible for God" means God can do anything in whatever way. Yet, this almighty God actually has a plan for the salvation of the human race. In fact, it is was long plan in the making.
Just the references to Jacob and David, two of Jesus' ancestors can give us a hint of how far back God's plan goes. David, whose throne will be given to Jesus, was the king of Israel about 1,000 years before the time of the Annunciation. The dates and the person of the patriarch Jacob were harder to pinpoint. Nevertheless, the Jewish people became aware of their identity of God's chosen people as the house of Jacob went back hundreds of years before David.
So, just on the human level, it was thousands of years of preparation for this moment of fulfillment in God's plan for our salvation. And again, this is the God for whom nothing is impossible.
God does not take our salvation lightly.
How should I take my salvation?
December 17, 2011
4th Sunday of Advent - B (December 18, 2011)
Readings
Image: Fra Angelico (1387 - 1455) The Annunciation, Museo di San Marco, Florence
http://www.artbible.info/art/large/255.html
http://www.artbible.info/art/large/255.html
December 10, 2011
3rd Sunday of Advent - B (December 11, 2011)
Commentary
More importantly, he was "sent from God."
John himself knew who he was, and what his mission was. He was a messenger from God, sent "to testify."
His life, his words, and his action were evidently marked by his identity. As a result, his life, his words and his action served to fulfill that identity and his mission.
How about me? Do I believe that I am from God with a mission? Are my life, words and actions truthful to that identity? Do my life, words and actions serve that God-given mission?
Who Am I? Who Am I Not?
John the Baptist is clearly identified here, "He was not the light, but came to testify to the light."
More importantly, he was "sent from God."
John himself knew who he was, and what his mission was. He was a messenger from God, sent "to testify."
His life, his words, and his action were evidently marked by his identity. As a result, his life, his words and his action served to fulfill that identity and his mission.
How about me? Do I believe that I am from God with a mission? Are my life, words and actions truthful to that identity? Do my life, words and actions serve that God-given mission?
3rd Sunday of Advent - B (December 11, 2011)
December 3, 2011
2nd Sunday of Advent - B (December 4, 2011)
Commentary
Today, in the words of John the Baptist quoting the prophet, God Himself speaks to us. [1] And God invites us to prepare the way for the Kingdom established by the Messiah in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is the work for Christ's followers, who have been baptized, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah the Prophet spoke to the people of Israel who were then in exile that their nation will one day be the place where God's glory shines forth (Isaiah 40: 1-5). [2] That was the message for a people with no hope.
Our Task: Preparing the Way for the King
It's probably helpful to link this Sunday's Gospel with the Gospel we listened to a week ago from Mark 13: 33-37. There, "the Lord of the house" so trusts us that when "he leaves home, [he] places his servants in charge, each with his own work."
Today, in the words of John the Baptist quoting the prophet, God Himself speaks to us. [1] And God invites us to prepare the way for the Kingdom established by the Messiah in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is the work for Christ's followers, who have been baptized, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah the Prophet spoke to the people of Israel who were then in exile that their nation will one day be the place where God's glory shines forth (Isaiah 40: 1-5). [2] That was the message for a people with no hope.
The prophet's message is now applied to us, a people who have been redeemed! And we are not preparing the way for any earthly rule, but the Kingdom of the Christ anointed by God's Holy Spirit!
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002; p. 32.
[2] Footnote for Mark 1: 2-3 in The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), 2011.
November 26, 2011
1st Sunday of Advent - B
Commentary
Mark 13: 33-37
We Are In Charge
Today, Jesus uses a parable to teach his followers the appropriate attitude they should have while they wait for "the lord of the house" to return.
The command to "watch" can give the wrong connotation of a passive waiting for disaster to happen. That, however, does not seem to be Jesus' intention.
In the parable, the lord of the house, before leaving, "places his servants in charge, each with his own work." He trusts them. And each of them is entrusted with a task to do. This trust does not suggest passivity or fear as the attitude the servants should have.
For the disciples of Christ, the parable takes on a new meaning when read in the context of the Gospel of Mark. There, this parable is Jesus' very last teaching before the events of his last Passover, when he is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. During these fateful events, the disciples fail miserably. First, they could not stay awake when Jesus was praying, even though he has told them to "remain here and keep watch" (14: 34). Then, one of them betrays him, the leader denies knowing him, and the rest all run for their lives.
Yet, to these very disciples, who have failed miserably, Jesus entrusts each with a task to do.
In fact, it is the most important task. They are to continue his mission.
Prior to this parable, Jesus tells them in 13: 9 - 10, to preach the Gospel "to all nations" with the warning, "“Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them." [1]
Then, the Gospel ends as Jesus repeats the command, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature" before his ascension (16: 15).
Passive waiting is not an option here. We, the followers of Christ, have been given a great mission. And it is given out of his trust for us, no matter how often we are not worthy of it.
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002; p. 271-272.
Mark 13: 33-37
We Are In Charge
Today, Jesus uses a parable to teach his followers the appropriate attitude they should have while they wait for "the lord of the house" to return.
The command to "watch" can give the wrong connotation of a passive waiting for disaster to happen. That, however, does not seem to be Jesus' intention.
In the parable, the lord of the house, before leaving, "places his servants in charge, each with his own work." He trusts them. And each of them is entrusted with a task to do. This trust does not suggest passivity or fear as the attitude the servants should have.
For the disciples of Christ, the parable takes on a new meaning when read in the context of the Gospel of Mark. There, this parable is Jesus' very last teaching before the events of his last Passover, when he is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. During these fateful events, the disciples fail miserably. First, they could not stay awake when Jesus was praying, even though he has told them to "remain here and keep watch" (14: 34). Then, one of them betrays him, the leader denies knowing him, and the rest all run for their lives.
Yet, to these very disciples, who have failed miserably, Jesus entrusts each with a task to do.
In fact, it is the most important task. They are to continue his mission.
Prior to this parable, Jesus tells them in 13: 9 - 10, to preach the Gospel "to all nations" with the warning, "“Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them." [1]
Then, the Gospel ends as Jesus repeats the command, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature" before his ascension (16: 15).
Passive waiting is not an option here. We, the followers of Christ, have been given a great mission. And it is given out of his trust for us, no matter how often we are not worthy of it.
------------------
[1] Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002; p. 271-272.
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