Notice the angel Gabriel’s first word to Mary: “Rejoice.” Let’s remember it this week, which can be one of the most hectic in the year. The angel says, “rejoice.” Not “spend. Clean. Cook. Decorate. Shop. Bake. Wrap. Shop again. Create the perfect holiday ambiance. Work to exhaustion. Make everyone in the family sublimely happy.”
In his Rule, St. Benedict says, “each day has reasons for joy.” Maybe at this time of year, they are more obvious. The shared belief of Christians is that Jesus has become one with humans, indeed has pitched his tent within us. None of us deserves this, so we celebrate God’s lavish abandon, the pure gratuity of God’s gift.
If this seems a tall order, if we’re too tired or depressed to rejoice, we can take heart from the ambiguity of the feast. Mary’s reaction to the angel is to be “much perplexed.” Indeed, the whole experience is for her a two-edged sword: joy tempered by natural, human fear.
This week, we’ll hear Zechariah’s song of praise. He breaks a long silence, welcomes new possibility, and expresses a hard-won trust in God—and his wife. Let’s try to make this week our own canticle of gratitude and praise.
Kathy will be speaking at:
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon, CA 94583
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 10:00-11:30 a.m, on:
“Will the Real Mary Magdalene Stand Up? Stand Back!”
And TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on:
“Prayer In Chaos, Commotion and Clutter”
All are welcome. Free events require registration. To register, go to www.sjasr.org/GIFT
Kathy Coffey 