The whole world awaits Mary's reply

From A sermon of St Bernard

You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us. The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life. Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race. Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word. Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.

**Taken from the Office of Readings, Dec. 20

Christmas Carols

Have you ever stopped to look at what you are singing when you sing a Christmas Carol? It wasn’t until now that I truly stopped to dwell on the words of them. I am not talking about those that are about Santa Clause, shopping, or fireside marshmallows. Rather, I am speaking of those that speak of Christ.

Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and so on. These give us a picture of that blessed night, expounding upon that of scripture so much. No, these are not to be a substitute for God’s Word. Rather, they are meant to be an aid to it.

Perhaps some time could be taken this year to meditate on the images provoked by some of these songs depicting the scene at the manger. But do not stop there. Ask yourself how you could witness to it, bringing it to life for all those you encounter day by day. The more we live out the true meaning of Christmas—the Incarnation of Christ—the more Christmas will come to find its true meaning again, and we will no long be saying, “Happy Holidays” or moving to name a Christmas tree a “Holiday Tree”.

Beauty only wets the appetite

I heard spoken a philosophical thought which I believe comes from one of the early Church Fathers—Beauty is not meant to be an end in itself; it is only meant to wet the appetite.

After hearing a wonderful song or seeing an exquisite painting, have you ever thought, “Wow! Now that was beautiful!” and then stood speechless? Do you then simply stop there or do you instead dwell upon it in order to find out just what it was that made you experience such a feeling?

During Advent and Christmas, we are presented with something very beautiful. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful sights ever recorded—the Incarnation. And these two seasons, especially Advent—the period of waiting—present for us an opportunity to stay speechless. This is the perfect time to gaze inwardly upon ourselves to find Christ in all his beauty. Now what words can one use justifiably to describe Beauty itself?

Looking beyond the beauty of the manger scene, you may find that “Christmas is Love itself born in silence in the comfort of a manger.” How can you bring this to life this liturgical year?