Advent 4 C + Love & Service + 12.19.21

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Micah 5:2–5a; Canticle 15; Hebrews 10:5–10; St Luke 1:39–45)

“In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit….”

I can imagine it. Mary, her sandaled feet hitting the road, breathing a little harder as she makes her way to her cousin. Her cousin who is older than her, but possibly a great friend of hers. We know that she was the person with whom Mary wanted to share her great news. And it was possibly to process her emotions a bit.

What would you do if your God visited you and told you that you were going to have a child, not born of a man of this world, but by his power? I would have been in shock. And possibly so was Mary. But after her moment of shock, she went to her comadre- her bosom friend and cousin. She went to help and share the joy, as mentioned in the special episode of Rezando-voy this past week for the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. She responded with love and service. She is an example for us of loving and sharing her joy and being willing to serve. Since her cousin was already close to her time, Mary could prepare for this new event in her life even as she could help her cousin.

I think this is a little secret of life. When we feel overwhelmed by life, we have to love more, and serve more. Not to score points in heaven, but to regain our hope in this world as well. Serving people helps us not to lose hope in humanity. If you don't believe me, I challenge you to come and hand out a bag of food at the pantry on Fridays, or a meal on Sundays. It makes you feel like the world is a better place (even if those who visit are not always in a good mood). This past Sunday, I was very tired in the afternoon. But I decided to go help out at Bread of Life, not because they really needed the help, but because I felt disconnected in this way of serving. And it wasn't completely peaceful, but at the end of the day I felt like we did something right.

Because this year has challenged us. It has confronted us with realities. We have seen that we do not all think the same, even amongst our family and friends. If there are situations in which our family members do not agree with us, how can we take care of ourselves without losing the important relationship we have with these people? It is so important to do what Mary did with Elizabeth, to go share with our comadres and compadres and other close people. Although we do not always agree on everything.

I see this every week in this parish. In the mother of many children who still thinks about how to share a little Christmas spirit not only with the organization for children with special abilities, but also with the children of this parish and community. In the grandmother who wears too many hats, doing Sunday school, altar guild and hospitality in a single Sunday. In the parishioner who knitted caps with a friend, several of which we handed out at Bread of Life and most of the others of which I brought to a homeless encampment on Friday. In the many who come to serve - whether it be for Bread of Life, hospitality, altar guild, the pantry or helping out in the office. In serving, we share love. And we receive love.

In the book of Micah today, we hear:

“You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,

whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.”

From humble Bethlehem will come a powerful leader. A ruler of Israel. And a commenter this week mentioned that here Micah speaks of a leader showing a new model. A model of leadership as care.^[1]  Care for the people, just as King David was the Shepherd who showed a way of caring for God's flock in his best moments. In our interpretation, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will take care of us. And at our baptism, we don't just become his sheep. We also become little shepherds. As we mature as Christians, our duty is to serve others. This is following Jesus Christ.

Imara, who will be baptized today in the Spanish service, is too young to serve others now, but as she is baptized today, her parents and godparents make a promise. To support her at all times, and also promise to follow God and the ways of love and service as an example to her. Until she can find her own way of faith, they will show her the way. And when she has found her own path, they will support her in prayer and by their example. In the questions that we will ask later today in the Baptismal Covenant, we will ask everyone if they are going to serve each person as Christ. How difficult it is to do this. And even worse in the season of Advent and Christmas. Sometimes we feel a lot of joy and sometimes the stresses of the season make us feel overwhelmed and we don't always treat our loved ones and the other people around us well. Sometimes we have to remember Mary's example and share a little more love and service even when we are not feeling patient.

But Mary, the first believer, is a good example of this for us. When we feel overwhelmed, let us know that God is by our side. May we seek out our loved ones to share hope and good news. And also to talk about what is happening in our lives. To remember that we are not alone. Even if we don't always agree on everything. We know that we agree on what matters. And this is - sharing love, and serving others.

Very soon, we will celebrate with Mary and Joseph at the coming of Jesus. But for now, we wait, love, and serve.

Amen.

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[1] Margaret Odell, For Working Preacher 12.19.21, https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-micah-52-5a-5.