2nd Advent Sunday 2017, My Spirit Rejoices

2^nd Advent
December 10, 2017

Bruchsal 

Luke 1: 26-56

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

Visitation, St. James Altarpiece

And for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word.“

And the angel departed from her.

2^nd Advent
December 10, 2017
Luke 1: 26-56

We are approaching the sunset of the year. As the days grow shorter, we may find ourselves becoming more contemplative. But at the same time our souls are drawn outward. At sunset, the angels of color weave in grandeur, and we are elevated by the slowly changing interplay of color. Our souls can expand in gratitude for what we are allowed to experience.

SB Whatley

In intimate but mighty pictures, the Gospel reading describes a cosmic sunset—the descent of the Sun-God into humanity. The soul of the young Mary soul opens in question and assents in humility. Afterward, she does not remain in her chamber but will rise up to go out and visit her aged cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth, although old, is also experiencing a descent in her expectancy of John, the one who will himself be a kind of angelic messenger, the baptizer of Christ Jesus. Angels interweave. Mary brings with her the nearness of the Lord to quicken John. Elizabeth feels joy and gratitude. Both souls, young and old, expand in praise. The Lord’s nearness inspires Mary’s great hymn of praise, the Magnificat:

My soul grows great in praising you, O Lord of Life.
My spirit rejoices before you, O bringer of Healing. 

Mary represents what humankind can feel now: His approach, His nearness. We anticipate in praise. For every sunset implies a coming sunrise. At Christmas, at midnight, the light of the Sun-God will shine again in the darkness. We can already sense the coming Light. Our souls grow great in praising Him because His approaching power of Light creates lightness in us.