The Friar Podcasts - preaching prayer and spiritual reflections

I did not realize the power of this encounter nor its place in salvation history until I listened to Fr. Mike Schmitz discuss this on The Bible in a Year Podcast. But once I heard his commentary, I cannot see the story from today's gospel any other way.

In his commentary, he draws a parallel between King David, Mary, John the Baptist, and the Lord Jesus. In 2 Samuel 6:2, David arose to see the Ark of the Covenant. Mary arose to go to the hill country to greet Elizabeth. David asks, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" Elizabeth asks Mary, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

The simple answer for King Ahaz is no. He does not want to listen or to know. He does not like what he is hearing from the prophet Isaiah. He wants to go with the logical and the reasonable in trusting the major power Assyria. So, under the guise of following God, Ahaz rejects God.

Young children have a magical feel when it comes to Christmas. So much of what surrounds them at Christmas is just unbelievable. There are so many magical things. Lights. Santa. Elves. For me, Christmas is a holiday for children.

But in the midst of all of this, it is so easy to forget the real magic of the season. The faith story is so familiar it can be the case we lose the sense of magic that surrounded the fulfillment of God's plan. It can become yesterday's old news. And yet . . .

When most of us think of sacrifice or penance, usually Lent comes to mind, when many choose to sacrifice by giving something up, something we really like. We may not think about how self-denial is a long part of any attempt to grow spiritually.

When most of us think of sacrifice or penance, usually Lent comes to mind, when many choose to sacrifice by giving something up, something we really like. We may not think about how self-denial is a long part of any attempt to grow spiritually.

We see two different instances where the presence of God becomes clear, and the request made by God seems difficult. But we equally see two different responses. There is the evil King Ahaz, who chooses not to follow God but rather his own desires. And there is Joseph the righteous man who willingly takes Mary as his wife when asked to do so.

When was the last time God called you to do something you did not want to do? It may be you thought the challenge was too great, or perhaps it was simply something you did not want to do. Potentially you thought it a bad idea.

Each year during Advent, there is a reading of the genealogy of Jesus from the gospel of Matthew. Matthew's genealogy starts with Abraham, which represents the beginning of the covenant, the promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.

For most of us it does not take too much memory to recall what it was like as a little kid waiting for Christmas to arrive. And if it was the night before, the waiting almost seemed unbearable. It hardly seemed possible we would ever be able to fall asleep.

Can you imagine what it would be like if waiting on our salvation felt the same way? What would it be like if we got just as excited in waiting for our salvation as we did in waiting for Christmas? Would waiting for Jesus to return to save us be as difficult as waiting for Christmas as a little kid?

Jesus appears to make to statements that at first glance seem like they could not both be true. I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John. This seems pretty clear. John is a pretty important person, who was the answer to God's statement, Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.

And this does seem to be an important role, announcing the coming of the Messiah. But then Jesus goes on to say, yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he. How can this be?

The reality is that Jesus is referencing our baptism. Those who are baptized become beloved sons and daughters of God. While God loves all people, all men and women, he enters into special relationship with them through the power of Baptism.

And so this Advent season, consider your special relationship with God, and ask Him to send out signs of his love for you.