Advent Meditations: Tuesday 8 December
| Tue Dec 8 |
Ps. 98 | Gen. 3:9-15, 20 | Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12 | Lk. 1:26-38 |
ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR: –Feast of the Conception by Blessed Anna of the Most-holy Theotokos (East) OR the Commemoration of the Conception of Mary, the Mother of Our Lord (West)
A feast celebrating Mary’s conception is seen as controversial and a new innovation in the theology of the Church, yet Church history tells us otherwise. St. Justin Martyr (A.D. 165) and St. Irenaeus (200) were calling Mary the “new Eve,” as a parallel to Paul’s biblical description of Jesus as the “new Adam.” By the eighth century, in the Christian East, St. Andrew of Crete (740) and St. John of Damascus (749) were praising Mary’s perfect sinlessness. The general teaching of this became known widely in eastern Christianity by the seventh century. It appeared in Naples and perhaps also in Ireland by the ninth, and it entered England in the 11th century.
While the easier response is to say it is all non-scriptural, the reality is the catholic faith east and west have a position nonetheless. The Orthodox Tradition believes that Mary, as a human being, could indeed have sinned, but chose not to. In the Roman Catholic understanding, it seems that Mary, who according to what was an evolving doctrine over centuries had been exempted from the guilt of original sin [the Orthodox do not accept that humans share the guilt of the first sin but, rather, only the consequences] before all eternity, and thus could not have sinned.
As Anglicans we give thanks for her conception and her birth and he devotion to the God who created her.
MEDITATION – The lessons today are taken from liturgical lectionaries, East and West, and call to mind that this celebration is especially appropriate at the beginning of Advent, when we recall the two great figures of expectation who prepared for the coming of Christ: John the Baptist and Mary. The readings resound with affirmations of the gracious love of God showered on Mary and on all who believe in her son. On this day, many catholic Christians in the East and the West rejoice at the conception of Mary by her mother Anna and Father Joachim. St. Anne through the grace of God bore the one blessed amongst all women who beyond all comprehension conceived the Logos, the one whom we await this Advent season.
PRAYER: Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to heart the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SPIRITUAL Activity/DISCIPLINE – The special treat on this day comes from the Moravians and it is called Spritz (gingerbread cookies, loaded with fine, aromatic spices). These are mixed on the vigil, December 7 and shared with friends and family on the 8th (especially with those who are expecting a new family member this season). Or make your favorite gingerbread cookie. Perhaps for this solemnity the family could make a gingerbread house. OR Consider meditating on the mystery of this gift from God by praying the Angelus http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Cotidiana/Angelus.html if that is not practical or in line with your spirituality; listen to the wonderful music of Kings College Cambridge sing part of the Angelus at https://youtu.be/YrcnLtv_vLI
ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “By obeying, she became a cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.” – St. Irenaeus (From his treatise on Against Heresies III)
See also: Advent Devotion 7 – God’s Compassion, from GAFCON
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