God acts in the everyday.

The wonderful images of the Sacred Season of the Family warm our hearts. One beautiful spiritual icon of the meaning of holiness born to us is described in the beautiful narrative of Luke’s Annunciation. The angel appears to Mary, Mary goes to Elizabeth, and she knows that Mary is pregnant with God’s spirit made flesh. Their personal encounter with God made human is in their wombs—such powerful intimacy—the last prophet of Israel John the Baptist, and his cousin Jesus, the Messiah. Both would be born like every other child and to these two women who trusted in God’s promise to them. Mary and Elizabeth shared in the miracle of God’s proclamation of human worth. God chooses to become one of us, born the same way that we are. The ordinary of life is declared miraculous. The Herald of the Messiah and the Messiah are born into the same family. Family Life is Sacred and…

God's plan for all humanity is enclosed in the fragility and in the strength of two mothers-to-be. 

We pay Mary homage for her role in the Incarnation, and we should. But she is not chosen because she comes from royal lineage in a palace, or belongs to a distinguished family. As you read the infancy texts, you notice that Mary is a simple young woman. We do not even hear of her family lineage.  God acts in the everyday.

The Advent story says that which starts as a small consent to serve God's purposes is made miraculous. Such is God’s sacred reminder that miracles are in the daily and the ordinary happenings and in seemingly ordinary people—possible for all of us.

Here are a few reminders of just some of God’s Advent Presence that makes the ordinary sacred:

· the kiss on the cheek to an elderly person, who is rarely touched or held

· taking the time to sit and listen to a youngster who often feels unheard in his/her own family,

· placing your arm around the shoulder of a teen in trouble,

· turning off the knee—jerk reaction to those buttons that are easily pushed by a family member, and instead listen and respond rather than react,

· simple jesters like a gift bag decorated with images of Christmas hope prepared by a school child and given to someone in jail or juvenile hall, or to someone in our shelters with a card that says we are praying for you—you are not forgotten,

· our youth from Confirmation and Youth Ministry, providing gifts for youth in Juvenile Hall.

Such offerings are pleasing to the Lord and reflect His face in ours. To visit those who are sick, to write a letter in support of an issue of justice, to reconcile members of our family, are some of the little acts that have the potential for great things, gifts and offerings that God is working through us. These are just some of the gifts that last-the many acts of compassion in witness of Jesus’ Advent in our lives.

As we look at the Annunciation in this Season of the Holy Family, we are reminded, once again, that all life is sacred: God’s Spirit ignites human creation into being—the human soul is touched by God—at conception. Let us do all we can to stand up for the sanctity of all life—conception to natural death. Giving witness is how we proclaim the greatness of the Lord in us; how we see life as blessed The personal encounter with God made human is compassionate love for all—no boundaries, no barriers, no condemnation—universal hope and salvation.

What is true for Mary can be true for us,

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  (Lk 1:45)

God’s loving care for us is fulfilled through Jesus in our hearts and our hands reaching out to others.

                                                        Fr. Gordon.