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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Once upon a time,
\nin the early ages of the world,
\npeople believed that storms and droughts and sickness
\nwere sent by angry gods and goddesses.
\nTo the ancient people, the universe was a fearful place,
\na place of chaos, a place of danger,
\nand the only way to stay safe
\nwas to offer sacrifices to try and please the gods.
\nAncient peoples would sacrifice a portion of the crops,
\nthey would sacrifice animals,
\nand in some cases, they even sacrificed humans.<\/p>\n
But then came a people who learned the truth.
\nGod revealed himself to the chosen people as the one God, the only God,
\nand made a covenant with them through Abraham:
\nHe would be their God, and they would be his people.
\nHe promised them a land flowing with milk and honey.<\/p>\n
And although the people tried to live out their part of the covenant,
\nthey often failed to do God\u2019s will.
\nThey worshipped a golden calf
\nwhile Moses was receiving the Law on Mount Sinai.
\nThey grumbled and complained as they traveled through the desert.
\nBut God remained ever faithful,
\nleading them through the desert to the promised land,
\neventually anointing David as their king.<\/p>\n
And yet still the people struggled to obey the will of God.
\nKing David himself sent Uriah to his death,
\nso he could have Uriah\u2019s wife Bathsheba.
\nSolomon\u2019s sons fought among themselves,
\ndividing up the kingdom,
\nand making it vulnerable to attack
\nfrom the Babylonians and the Assyrians.<\/p>\n
The leaders of the people betrayed the covenant,
\nand worshipped the false gods of their conquerors.
\nThey slipped ever more into sin and death.<\/p>\n
And although the prophets tried to call the leaders back to righteousness,
\nit became ever more clear that the people could not do it on their own.
\nThey were trapped by their own pride, envy, lust, anger, gluttony.
\nThey needed help.
\nAnd God promised a savior,
\na king who be greater even than David.
\nThrough the prophets,
\nGod promised the people,
\n\u201cA shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse.\u201d
\n\u201cHe shall stand firm and shepherd his flock
\nby the strength of the LORD\u2026
\nHe shall be peace.\u201d
\n\u201cEvery valley shall be lifted up,
\nevery mountain and hill made low.\u201d<\/p>\n
And so the chosen people waited.
\nAnd waited.
\nThey waited all the long years they were in exile.
\nThey waited all the long years after they returned from exile.
\nThey waited as they were conquered by the Greeks,
\nand they waited as the Greeks were then conquered by the Romans.
\nFor decades they waited;
\nfor generations they waited;
\nfor centuries they waited.<\/p>\n
As the Christmas hymn goes,
\n\u201cLong lay the world in sin and error pining.\u201d
\nThe world, the universe, pined for the one who would come to save it.<\/p>\n
And then, one day,
\nwhen the time was just right,
\na messenger was sent by God:
\nGabriel, the angel of the Lord.
\nAnd the entire universe watched in suspense,
\npeeking down upon earth
\nto see who Gabriel was sent to visit,
\nand how God\u2019s message would be received.<\/p>\n
Gabriel was not sent to world leaders,
\nor religious leaders.
\nor business leaders.
\nHe was not sent to a rich man, to an influential man,
\nor to any man at all.<\/p>\n
Gabriel was sent to a young girl,
\na quiet young woman of faith,
\nwho lived an ordinary, simple life.<\/p>\n
Gabriel had a message for this young girl,
\na proposal.
\nBecause God never forces his will on another,
\nhe only invites.
\nAnd as he sent his proposal, his invitation,
\nthe universe held its breath.
\nHow would she answer?
\nWhat would she say?
\nThe universe hung in the balance.<\/p>\n
In a meditation by Saint Bernard, the universe says to Mary:<\/p>\n
You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son;<\/em> The price of our salvation is offered to you.<\/em> Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you,<\/em> Answer quickly, O Virgin.<\/em> Why do you delay, why are you afraid?\u2026<\/em> Arise, hasten, open.<\/em> \u201cBehold the handmaid of the Lord,\u201d\u00a0she says,<\/em> She said \u201cyes.\u201d And the universe erupted in joy.<\/p>\n A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,<\/em> After all the long years of waiting, So when Mary visits Elizabeth, Mary is blessed for two reasons: Today we are reminded of the essential part Mary played For we, too, have been chosen by God to bear his Son. God also sends his invitation to us In our day, people still struggle to stay true to the covenant. And so we, who live ordinary simple lives, like Mary, This is the invitation, Why do you delay, why are you afraid?\u2026<\/em> Will we accept the invitation?
\nyou have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit.<\/em>
\nThe angel awaits an answer;<\/em>
\nit is time for him to return to God who sent him.<\/em>
\nWe too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion;<\/em>
\nthe sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWe shall be set free at once if you consent\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n
\nO loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise.<\/em>
\nAbraham begs it, David begs it.<\/em>
\nAll the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors,<\/em>
\nask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death\u2026<\/em>
\nfor on your word depends comfort for the wretched,<\/em>
\nransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned,<\/em>
\nindeed, salvation for\u2026the whole of your race.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nReply in haste to the angel\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n
\nSee, the desired of all nations is at your door,<\/em>
\nknocking to enter\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nArise in faith, hasten in devotion,<\/em>
\nopen in praise and thanksgiving.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u201cbe it done to me according to your word.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMary said \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nfor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nafter centuries of being unfaithful to the covenant,
\nfinally, one of our people says yes, totally and completely.<\/p>\n
\nJohn the Baptist jumps for joy, expressing the elation of the universe.
\nAnd Elizabeth welcomes her by calling her \u201cblessed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFirst, she was chosen by God to bear his Son.
\nIt is a blessing to be chosen.
\nAnd second, she said yes to that invitation.
\nIt is a blessing that she accepted the will of God,
\nshe accepted God\u2019s invitation.<\/p>\n
\nin our salvation.
\nWe are also reminded that Mary is our model of discipleship.<\/p>\n
\nWe have been given the great blessing of being chosen for Baptism,
\nchosen to carry Christ within us,
\nto be Christ, in fact.<\/p>\n
\nand invites us to play a part in the salvation of the world.<\/p>\n
\nLeaders in all areas of life,
\npolitical, religious, and business,
\nfail to live up to their calling.
\nThe world still needs a savior, still longs for the Messiah.
\n\u201cLong lay the world in sin and error pining.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nare invited to bring Christ into the world:
\nto feed the hungry,
\nto clothe the naked,
\nto care for the sick,
\nand visit the imprisoned.
\nTo be meek,
\nto hunger and thirst for righteousness,
\nto be merciful, to be peacemakers.
\nTo turn the other cheek,
\nto forgive not seven times,
\nbut seven times seventy times.
\nTo accept our crosses daily.<\/p>\n
\nto carry Christ within us.
\nThe universe holds it breath, waiting for our reply,
\nand says to us as it said to Mary:<\/p>\n
\nSee, the desired of all nations is at your door,<\/em>
\nknocking to enter\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWe have only to say, as Mary did,
\n\u201cBe it done to me according to your word.\u201d<\/p>\n