Christmas for Christ

Friday, Dec. 18, 2015

In his homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Father Martin Diaz pointed out something I had never considered before: The Virgin Mother had a choice when the angel paid her a visit 2,000 years ago in Galilee. 

I immediately imagined this scene: After Gabriel’s announcement, Mary says, “I appreciate the offer, but if I accept it, my fiancé might refuse to marry me because he’s not the father of my child, and then where would I be? This culture I live in casts out unwed mothers, so I’d probably starve to death, and my child along with me. I’d rather just get married, settle down and have kids the normal way. So, thanks, but no thanks.”

I realized that Joseph, too, could have balked; after all, what did he have to gain by raising a child who was not his? The wise men, also – they left their homes and traveled far to pay homage to a foreign king, and they then risked Herod’s wrath by not reporting back to him the location of the newborn King of the Jews, as he had ordered them to do.

Any of these people could have resisted following God’s plan. It’s a wonder to me that they didn’t, because they were all being asked to make a radical leap of faith based only on a dream. (OK, so Mary also got the appearance of an angel, but of them all the most was being asked of her.)  

What if they hadn’t acquiesced? What if Mary had said she didn’t want to bear the child of the Holy Spirit, or if Joseph had declined to marry a woman who was carrying the child of another, or if the wise men had chosen not to endanger themselves by flouting Herod? They had to know that he was a very dangerous man to disobey.

But Mary did accept her role as the handmaid of the Lord, and Joseph agreed to serve as a stepfather to her child, and the magi chose to follow the warning they received in a dream rather than the command of a king they had seen face to face. As a result, Mary bore a son, named him Jesus, and — well, you know the rest of the story.   

Fast forward 2,000 years and we Christians are in the middle of Advent, the time when we prepare ourselves to once again welcome Christ into our lives. Speaking only for myself, I haven’t seen any angels either in the flesh or in my dreams, so I’m happy to report that God isn’t asking anything of me.

Or is he?

The Gospel for Gaudate Sunday quoted John the Baptist: “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” 

In fact, it’s a rare Sunday when the Gospel doesn’t somehow ask us to answer God’s call.

Then there’s Pope Francis, Jesus’ representative on Earth, very publicly requesting that I and everyone else this year feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, harbor the harborless, visit the sick, ransom the captive, bury the dead, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted and pray for the living and the dead.

Imagine what Christmas would be like next year if each of us said yes to even one of these works of mercy. Our world – and likely ourselves – would be radically improved, and wouldn’t that be a wonderful gift to give to Christ upon his return?