ADVENT MEDITATIONS: Thursday 8 December 2016

Dec 8, 2016 by

PSALM: am: 45        pm: 98, 86
OT:  Genesis 3:9-15,20
EPISTLE:  Galatians 4 :22-27
GOSPEL:  St Luke 1:46-55

Feast of Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( in the West), Feast of the Conception by St Anne of the Holy Theotokos ( In the East)

NOTES ON THE TODAY IN THE LITURGCIAL CALENDAR : On this day in Advent the Church in the East and the West takes pause to ponder the witness of Mary! Before the foundation of the world God chose Mary and gave her the vocation of THEOTOKOS. The Eastern tradition of the Church highlights in its teaching that this feast points beyond the Virgin herself and focuses on the significance—for her as for us—of the One whom she bore, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church in the East and the West reminds us that her import as is expressed in these feast days can be understood only in the light of her Son’s saving activity. She prays and intercedes on our behalf. This is the calling—and the blessed possibility—offered to all of us, insofar as we, like the Mother of God, willingly offer ourselves, together with the world around us, to the mercy and grace of our Lord.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION: The lessons for today are taken from the traditions East and West on this feast day using both the Office Readings as well as the Eucharistic Readings. While these readings are rich, in considering the text from the Magnificat of St. Luke we are struck that as we live in the 21st Century we still recall with great reverence the ministry of this poor girl from Galilee. From generation to generation the Angel Gabriel promised Mary would be called blessed. Perhaps that is one of the reasons Mary’s proclamation in Luke is so significant, not to mention it is the longest discourse given to any woman in the sacred scriptures.

The Magnificat is worthy of our own meditation in Advent for those of us who struggle with the changes and chances of life and are frustrated by the hard knocks life sometimes renders, we receive confidence from Mary the poor, struggling Galilean peasant woman, has been chosen by God. Mary celebrates what the ‘great’ ‘saving’, ‘mighty’, and ‘holy’, God has done for her in looking on her ‘lowliness. Mary sings passionately of God’s mercy to oppressed people – God’s victory over the proud, the powerful and the rich. Good guys don’t finish last! The song is full of powerful verbs that say a great change is coming and for us Advent is a season for that great change to come and be fluffed. The approach of the Reign of God will mean the reversal of so much that troubles us: the hungry will be fed, the lowly will be exalted and the powerful will be toppled. Not exactly how most people make plans for their lives, they try to set a steady course. Advent is an appropriate time to remember the THEOTOKOS as she is an outstanding model of how one prepares for Jesus.

PRAYER: Hail Mary, Full of Grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, pray for us so that your Son may be born anew in us the Advent and coming Christmas.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OR ACTIVITY – The special treat for this feast is Moravian Spritz, or gingerbread cookies, loaded with fine, aromatic spices. These are mixed on the vigil, December 7. Or make your favorite gingerbread cookie. Perhaps for this solemnity, family and friends could gather and make a gingerbread cookie or even a house. When done seeking to be an agent of building up and having a change of heart share these with folks who are described in the Magnfifcat that are in your life.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE “The world being unworthy to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her.” -Saint Augustine

 

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