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Monday 4th Week Advent
St. Luke’s Institute
December 22, 2014
JOY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Mary’s
song, the Magnificat, which is the
text for today’s Gospel, has been called a Canticle of Joy
Ø It fulfills the 3-fold definition of joy:
Ø (1) The settled assurance that God is
in control of all the details of my life,
Ø (2) The quiet confidence that
ultimately everything is going to be all right,
Ø (3) And the determined choice to
praise God in every situation
MARY’S SONG OF JOY +++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
It
is comforting to realize that the singing of this canticle by Christians has at
times been considered subversive by dictators and repressive government regimes
Ø
Mary’s
proclamation confirms that Christ’s coming and teaching can have a powerful impact
even in the present
JOY OF RIGHTING
WRONGS ++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
One
of the persisting criticisms of Christians has always been that we are only
interested in the future, the world to come,
Ø
And,
consequently, there is an opening to preach acceptance of injustice now in view
of eternal hope
Ø
Influential
people, whether they be religious or political figures, who advocate class supremacy,
racial prejudice, selfishness, or unbridled profit making, should not expect or
find support among Christians
Ø
Our
God, we are reminded, comes to confuse the proud, depose the mighty, and raise
up the lowly
Ø
The
coming of Christ, in practice however, should herald the introduction of
concern for the lowly and the hungry in our world
Ø
Whether
it does that or not, of course, depends on our willing cooperation with God’s
desire for justice and compassion
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
It’s
high time we get fully committed to the way God sees the world!
Ø
Doing
so, Mary assures us, may be the best way to have the Savior born to us, as he
was to her
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
