Knock Knock (2)

Advent is almost over.

Just five more days ‘til Christmas (Vigil).

And on this Last Sunday of Advent,

There’s a very noticeable theme in our liturgy.

The classic advent theme – the coming.

And the preparation for our role in the coming – the receiving.

Our scriptural readings and liturgical prayers speak of coming.

We sang Savior of the Nations Come as our entrance hymn.

We’ll sing O Come O Come Emanuel as our recessional hymn.

We ask Jesus—God—to come to us.

But do we really expect Him to come?

Why should He?

Who are we?  Are we so special, that he should come to us?

That’s the gist of Elizabeth’s thoughts when she sees Mary approaching.

So, how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord

Should come to me?

Her words show that Elizabeth is a humble woman.

And not with just a casual or insincere sense of humility.

She recognizes an undeserved honor when she sees one.

And, from Elizabeth’s perspective, it is surprising.

She’s just an old woman in a remote hill country.

Someone accustomed to being in the background.

Yet Mary came.

Because she sensed the need and because she too was humble.

Not thinking of herself as someone too important to pitch in and help her elder cousin.

No doubt, Mary also wanted to see the sign that the angel had given her.

And indeed, just as Gabriel had said, she found old Elizabeth nearing time to give birth.

Mary had already believed the angel and had already consented to her role.

But she must have felt some added confidence when she saw Elizabeth.

And she must have been pleased that Elizabeth immediately knew about Jesus.

Seeing that knowledge just come to Elizabeth upon her arrival.

And seeing it just come to John upon his somehow sensing that Jesus was near.

More signs from the Spirit assuring Mary that God was still with her.

Some scholars speculate that Joseph accompanied Mary on the journey.

Elizabeth’s condition and her greeting would greatly reinforce his faith too.

But to a great extent this coming, this Visitation, this little advent,

Is about Mary recognizing Elizabeth’s need,

And coming to help her.

And about Jesus coming with her, because he knew our needs.

Advent is all about Jesus’ coming.

Humbly coming to our world, and coming to each of us.

Just as he came to Mary.

And to Elizabeth.

And to John.

So as we celebrate his coming to our world 2000 years ago.

We also ask him to come to us individually.

Come to save us from whatever is causing us great distress.

Come to free us from whatever has a hold on us

Come to help us through the storms of life.

And there are plenty of storms in the world around us today.

Not to mention our personal inner storms.

So we ask, though we may not fully expect him to come.

We’re not sure he’ll listen to us.

But like Elizabeth, we are more special than we realize.

He thinks we’re special

We’re special to him.

And he knows our needs.

And so he did come.

And he does come.

And he will come again.

The question isn’t, Will he come?

It’s, Will we be ready?  Will we hear him when he comes?

We’re all another year older than we were last Advent.

A lot has happened since then.

We’re not exactly the same people as we were a year ago.

So in these final days of Advent we can prepare to receive him anew.

And to give him a better reception than ever before.

Jesus is always ready to come to us again.

He’s always offering to come closer.

To be part of us in new and deeper ways.

But we don’t always receive him.

He’s not always obvious; he’s not pushy.

It’s a lot like the Bethlehem scene here in the mural behind our St Joseph’s altar.

There’s knocking at the door, and Jesus is out there, but no one answers.

In our final preparation, let’s listen for him.

Let’s take to heart those simple but powerful words of Paul.

Not St Paul. 

Sir Paul …  McCartney.

Someone's knockin' at the door
Somebody's ringin' the bell.
Do me a favor,
Open the door, let 'em in.

4th Sunday of Advent

Lk 1:39-45    Read this Scripture @usccb.org