God with us

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! (O Antiphon, Evening Prayer, Dec. 20, 2020) 

The candles of the Advent wreath illuminate brightest in the days ahead as we draw near to the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas. On that day we celebrate our savior, Emmanuel, God with us. This great celebration occurs between the final Sunday in Advent and the Feast of the Holy Family. These liturgies are filled with radiant faith, hope and charity. The coming of our Lord into humanity, from his humble beginning to his salvific mission, reminds us that God is truly with us. 

God’s dwelling place (Faith)

The 4th Sunday in Advent begins with King David, settled in his stately home during a time of peace. He shares an internal struggle with the prophet Nathan, concerned over the reality that, while he has a comfortable place to live, God’s dwelling place (meaning the Ark of the Covenant) is in a tent. Nathan, through a message from God, explains to David that it is not he (David) who will build a dwelling place for God. Rather, God makes a place for all. Further, from David’s offspring God will raise up one “who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me” (2 Sm 7:1-16). God’s dwelling place is not in a tent, not in a castle, not in a cave, not in a hut. Where does God dwell?

Unexpected place (Hope)

“And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus’” (Lk 1:30-31).

As we meditate upon the Annunciation, a salvific dialogue between Gabriel and Mary, we are called to place ourselves amid the promise. The angel’s greeting defines Mary’s nature: full of grace, spotless and with free-will. The same glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (ark) and is the same that will overshadow Mary.  St. Louise de Marillac writes, “Worthy dwelling place for the soul that God created for her (Mary) … more and more graces have been poured into her soul … (she) has found favor in the eyes of God. His divine loving glance never left her since she always lived according to his will.” 

God will provide the dwelling place: an unexpected place of hope. The gift of free will comes with our response from God’s invitation. Gabriel’s invitation to Mary is her choice to decide. Yes or No. Angels and realms of heavenly creatures awaited her response, silent, attentive and hopeful. Here is the intersection of God and humanity. Can you be the dwelling place for my son, God incarnate? Yes or no? 

Paragraph 511 of The Catechism of The Catholic Church states, “The Virgin Mary cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation.” She uttered her yes “in the name of all human nature.” By her obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living. Mary becomes the new Ark of the Covenant with her fiat her wholehearted surrender of self to total trust in God. She said “yes!”  Mary became the unexpected and accepted dwelling place for God. 

God dwells among us: True God, true man

We affirm in the Nicene Creed, “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” Why? Why did Jesus, the word of God, become flesh? Simply put, “The word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God; the word became flesh so that we might know God’s love; the word became flesh to be our model of holiness; and the word became flesh to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature’ ” (Catechism Paragraphs 457-460). Saved, reconciled, know, love, follow holiness, share in God’s nature. What more can we hope for than God dwelling among us in the person of Jesus, true God and true man, wholly united to the will of the father and the Holy Spirit? What more can we hope for than God to dwell among us, becoming a baby dependent upon parents to care for him, to teach him, to 

shelter him, to feed him, to love him and to ultimately follow the will of the father, as he was sent for one purpose: to bring us home to God for the salvation of all humanity. What better gift than the gift of eternal salvation.

God’s dwelling in us (Love)

Our way of salvation and life in Christ is here and now. By our reception and participation in the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, anointing of the sick, holy orders and marriage, all instituted by Jesus, the word made flesh, we come to realize salvation, reconciliation, love, holiness and divine nature. Are we, like Mary, willing to say “yes” to the ultimate gift of the Incarnation, Jesus Christ, savior of the world, to dwell in us right now, today? What will be my fiat for God? “Mary leads us to discover the secret of Christian joy, reminding us that Christianity is, first and foremost, evangelization, ‘good news,’ which has as its heart and its whole content the person of Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, the one savior of the world” (St. John Paul II).

Holiness: The mission of the family

Lastly, let us reflect on the mission of the family. The readings from Sirach 3:2-14 and St Paul’s First Letter to the Colossians invite us to a way of holiness for families. Both offer deep insight to unite our family to the most Holy Family in faith, hope and love. Jesus, Mary and Joseph model the image of what it means to be a family of God. Each one embraced a specific role, yet together shared the life of faith, hope and love. 

Families sow 

Just as Joseph and Mary presented Jesus in the temple, so too are families called to sow seeds of faith: belief in God, trust in God, knowledge of God, love of God and witnesses of God by living a life in Christ. Does my family know God’s unconditional love? Does my child recognize Jesus’ love in me? Do we forgive one another? Do we desire the good for the other? Do we bring Christ to one another? Do we pray together? Does my family read about the saints? Do we go to Mass regularly as well as reconciliation? Do we invite others to Mass and other faith events? How is my family sowing the seeds of faith?

Families anchor

Just as St. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were anchored in the promises of God, families are called to be anchors of hope: trusting, open, merciful and consistent. When my child sees me, do they see hope in the Lord? Am I hopeful for my children, for my family, friends and community? Am I despairing, worried or anxious? Does our family fully place our trust and hope in the Lord? Do we hope for God’s goodness when life brings unexpected situations? Is my family an anchor of hope for other people?

Families love

Just as St. Joseph, Mary and Jesus are the image of love of God, families are called to be sanctuaries of love. Charity begins at home. Does my family love the Lord and others above all? Sometimes our neighbor is not next door but rather across the dining room table. Am I loving those God placed by acts of sacrifice and care? Is my family a living sign of God’s love?

We bless your name, O Lord, for sending your own incarnate Son, to become part of a family, so that, as he lived its life, he would experience its worries and its joys. We ask  you, Lord, to protect and watch over this family, so that in the strength of your grace its members may enjoy prosperity, possess the priceless gift of your peace, and, as the church alive in the home, bear witness in this world to your glory. We ask this thought Christ our Lord. Amen. (Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers)

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.