Word to the Wise
Saturday, December 19, 2009 - Saturday in the Third Week of Advent
[Judges 13:2-7, 24-25A and Luke 1:5-25]Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son.....[Judges] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years....[Luke]
There are some meanings and feelings about the seasons of Advent and Christmas about which I, as a celibate religious, can only speculate or else echo what friends tell me. Those women who wish to conceive and bear a child and cannot for whatever reason could easily find a special impact in today's scripture! Those parents who would like to adopt and are finding the process terribly frustrating and discouraging would likely find a special impact as well. Improbable pregnancies and children are part of the story of many important biblical figures such as Jacob, Samuel and Samson. Today the gospel refers to John the Baptist. Hope remains the central virtue of this time. For those whom I mentioned above, the hope is a certainly a profound longing. But the Christ child to be born in this season belongs to all of us and is God's answer to many prayers. My prayers, however, are also joined to those who wish to have children and experience the special joys that come for children at Christmas! AMEN