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The Consoling Joy of the Gospel¹

In a world that has not enough of any, the themes of Advent are significant – hope, peace, joy and love.  This  Sunday the focus is on joy.  The prophet Isaiah, a key character of the season, reminds us of the ‘good news’ which he has been sent to proclaim, for which he is ‘greatly rejoicing.’ Mary, on arriving at her cousin Elizabeth’s home, responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with her beautiful Magnificate – a prayer of joy and praise.  And the words of John’s Gospel, from which we also draw the Gospel for Christmas morning, speaks of one who has come to ‘testify to the light.’

From these possibilities, the words which resonate with me are those of this young mother-to-be.  We know there are many unwanted children conceived.  Given what we know about that time period, Jewish women were considered marriageable by the age of 13/14, so while we don’t know this definitely, it is expected that Mary would have been about that age when Jesus was born. She was young. Clearly she would have reservations about this pregnancy. 

Initially she resists the news from the angel Gabriel.  She is poor, uneducated, has no attachment with a man, is a powerless member of society – a nobody.  During this time, many women who had no husband, father or brother to look after them had to resort to prostitution simply to survive.  Women did not have it easy.  Mary must have had doubts. Even when a child is long desired, and couples well prepared, pregnancy creates anxiety.  On my much longed for first pregnancy, I remember lying awake one night mere weeks before my due date, saying to Wayne, “I can’t do this. I want out.”  “Well, girl,” he replied, “too late for that now.”  Even living in 20^th/21^st century North America, with good medical care, mother’s to be worry about what can go wrong; we worry about the financial strain of having a child; we worry about the parenting which will continue for the rest of our lives.  (My mother used to say, “Until you die, or they die, you worry about your children.”  She was right!) Despite this, Mary finally agrees to the angel’s request. 

Scant weeks after hearing the news from the angel, Mary speaks these words of gratitude and awe: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.  … For the Mighty One has done great things for me.”  With all she has in front of her, at this point not even yet having shared the news with her husband to be, this is a woman who is filled with joy. 

It is joy within the tumultousness of unknowing – unknowing how Joseph will respond; unknowing what exactly it means to bear the “Son of the Most High;” (Lk 1:32) unknowing, as no parent does, what the future will hold for this Jesus.  In her book, Lessons in Chemistry, author Bonni Garmus compares raising children to rowing: “Both require patience, endurance, strength, and commitment.  And neither allow us to see where we’re going – only where we’ve been.” Where Mary has been does not give much confidence for where she is going.

Within this struggle, Mary still feels joy and proclaims that joy to the first person who recognizes that she is with child.  Every child born has the potential to be someone great, do something amazing.  Children are such a wonderful gift, even those born in the most trying of circumstances.  How much more for one who is the Son of God.

In the midst of these last hectic weeks before Christmas, we are asked to look at our world with eyes of joy; to live, despite all that may be troubling us, with joy.  We think of joy and happiness as interchangeable words and yet they are not always so.  We all have prayers that seem to go unanswered, or are answered contrary to what we had hoped.  Life does not always work out the way we plan, especially the plans we make for our children – Wayne frequently reminds me, me wanting it for them does not make them want it.  However, within all the disappointments, pain, stress we may experience, we can also find joy – in morning sunrises, Christmas lights, inspiring music, errands completed, good books, quiet reflection. 

And always, always there is joy for the many possibilities that exist beause of the imminent birth of a child. 

~Ellen Bennett, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish Grouping

¹From the homily of Pope Francis at the conclusion of Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops