Second Tuesday of Advent (Isaiah 24:19-25:5)
Isaiah prophesied not only about the coming of Christ as a child in Bethlehem, but about the final reign of Christ as King over all the earth. In this selection for the second Tuesday of Advent, Isaiah tells us of the final judgment.If you live in northern Virginia, do you remember where you were and what you were doing when we felt the earthquake this past summer? Before you knew what it was, do you remember how you felt and what immediately ran through your mind?
When I opened Isaiah 24 and began to read v20, I thought back to this summer and the earthquake: 'The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind.' Isaiah is writing about the final judgment. As I stood ready to leave Wegman's and the building began to shake, I made the Sign of the Cross and pleaded to the Lord for whatever it was to stop. I would have to say that for however many seconds the quake lasted, my heart was empty of everything except 'Lord have mercy.'
Isaiah goes on to write that we are to praise the Lord and exalt Him in perfect faithfulness. Is anyone of us able to praise and exalt the Lord without humbling ourselves before Him? Can we praise and exalt the Lord without humbling ourselves before others? Can we be obedient without first practicing humility.......true humility?
I'm asking these questions because I would be remiss in my parenting if I did not take time and make you aware of the importance of humility. Sunday night you told your dad and I that humility was putting the needs of another ahead of your own needs. That is an excellent definition of humility. We asked you who was the epitome of humility and why and you answered Jesus because he died for our sins and put our needs ahead of his own desires.
So tonight, let's talk abut Mary, the Mother of G-d. Her feast day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is the day after tomorrow, and, really, how in the world could we talk about preparing for the birth of Christ and not talk about Mary. I mean, really? Let me ask you: do you think that Mary showed humility? But, before you answer, let me tell you some things about her.
As a young Jewish girl, Mary was considered marriageable at the age of twelve years and six months. Remember that people had a much shorter life span 2000 years ago so at twelve and a half years old, one was of marriageable age.
Luke 1:26-38, The Evangelist tells us that in the sixth month after the conception of St. John the Baptist by Elizabeth, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary, at Nazareth, a small town in the mountains of Galilee. Mary was of the house of David, and was espoused (i.e. married) to Joseph, of the same royal family. She had, however, not yet entered the household of her spouse, but was still in her mother's house, working, perhaps, over her dowry. (Bardenhewer, Maria Verk., 69). And the angel having taken the figure and the form of man, came into the house and said to her: "Hail, full of grace (to whom is given grace, favoured one), the Lord is with thee." Mary having heard the greeting words did not speak; she was troubled in spirit, since she knew not the angel, nor the cause of his coming, nor the meaning of the salutation. And the angel continued and said: "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end." The Virgin understood that there was question of the coming Redeemer. But, why should she be elected from amongst women for the splendid dignity of being the mother of the Messiah. Therefore, not doubting the word of God like Zachary, but filled with fear and astonishment, she said: "How shall this be done, because I know not man?"
This twelve and a half year old girl knew and had studied and prayed and she understood that the world was awaiting the Messiah, BUT as she is kneeling and praying on this day, the Angel Gabriel has told her that she is going to be the mother of the Messiah. She, who has not engaged in any behavior that would cause her to become pregnant, is going to give birth!
The angel to remove Mary's anxiety and to assure her that her virginity would be spared, answered: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." In token of the truth of his word he made known to her the conception of St. John, the miraculous pregnancy of her relative now old and sterile: "And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth; she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God." Mary may not yet have fully understood the meaning of the heavenly message and how the maternity might be reconciled with her vow of virginity, but clinging to the first words of the angel and trusting to the Omnipotence of God she said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word."
Let me have you read these words here yourself and pay attention to the part that is underlined. Do you see that part? THAT is humility. Essentially, this is what Mary said: 'I have no idea how the Lord is going to do this. I do understand that I have been chosen by Him. So be it. I am the Lord's servant -- His needs come before whatever I think mine are.'
That is humility (did I say that already?).
So, let's think about this in relation to our own lives. When you are asked to do something, do you respond 'yes,' 'no,' or 'wait awhile?' If you are asked to do something that is inconvenient for you at that moment (you are at a crucial point in a video game or television show or movie), OR maybe you aren't even doing anything at all but you HATE doing what you've been asked to do, whose needs influence your response?
If your mom asks you to set the table or empty the dishwasher or take the dog out, does your answer depend on whether or not you actually feel like doing it or if you want to do it?
Are you beginning to get a more clear idea of what humility is and how it is so closely tied to obedience?
Do you know that in order for us to be pleasing in the sight of the Lord, we must practice humility?
Please think of some ways that your behavior and attitude have to change in order for you to be pleasing in the sight of the Lord. What needs to be swept out of your stable so that humility and obedience can move in?
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