God’s promises are not fleeting: Homily for Sunday, December 22, 2024

Often the joys we experience in life are fleeting. Yet sometimes we strive for those promises that are fleeting, rather than seeking God who is eternal. Readings for Today. Listen to our other podcasts.

God’s promises are not fleeting

God’s promises are not fleetingFor one day in Middle School, I was a hero. But only for a day. First, a little context. When I was little, I was short, and I was skinny. So, when it came to athletic games, I was at a decided disadvantage even though I really liked athletics.

On this day, we were playing dodgeball. We were using softball sized kickballs. I was one of the final two players left. On the other side was arguably one of the best athletes in the seventh grade. I could sense the disappointment of the rest of the team at the development. I was doomed.

Except I wasn’t. He through a sizzling fastball at me, and well, I caught it. This meant that he was out, and my team won. What I remember was the absolute shock of my teammates and the other team’s teammates. They were stunned.

And then there were cheers. Lots of cheers. Gym class on this day was in the morning, and so I had the entire day to relish in my glory. For that day, everyone (it seemed) was talking about my “miraculous” catch.

But as is true in Middle School, glory is fleeting. I was a hero one day, and back to my small, skinny self the next day. The next day I was not the talk of the class, my overwhelming exploits of the day relegated to the dustbin of history. I had had my ten minutes of fame.

But God’s promises are not fleeting. They are eternal. Today we get a glimpse of the promise in the first reading, and we read about its fulfillment in the gospel. And in the gospel we encounter this promise in a way that was foreshadowed when King David danced naked in front of the Ark of the Covenant.

In the sixth chapter of the second book of Samuel, David is bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Like Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth it was not an easy journey. And as the Ark is being transported, the mood is festive and joyous. “David and all the house of Israel danced before the LORD with all their might, with singing, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.”

And the great joy at transporting the Ark of the Covenant is repeated as Mary too is received with shouts of joy. Both Mary and Elizabeth have a great cause for rejoicing. King David leaps and dances naked before the Ark of the Covenant, and John the Baptist, naked in his mother’s womb, leaps in his mother’s womb. Mary, the Mother of God is the new Ark of the Covenant.

The old Ark of the Covenant signified the presence of God in the Temple. Mary, the New Ark of the Covenant contains the very God himself, in her son Jesus, both God and man.  As the name Emmanuel implies, God, through Mary, is present among his people.

As we are only a few days away from Christmas, we are close to the magnificent celebration of the Incarnation, God becoming one with us. But it is not merely an emotional celebration of a “feel-good” moment. Why?

Well first, for many people, the Christmas holiday is not joyful or festive. There are those in our midst and around the world who struggle with this holiday. Some people live in unhappy homes, victims of violence. There are many people around the world who are without basic needs, like food, clothing, shelter and health care. There are many people who are the victims of war, famine, and violence.

Second, while the manger scene does recall a warm and emotional time, the reality was far different. Mary makes a difficult journey while pregnant. The only place they can stay is a barn. Jesus is laid in a manger, which is really what held the food eaten by the animals. There was a translation that did not use “manger” but a more accurate “feeding trough.” It did not go so well. Imagine the age-old Christmas carol “Away in the Feeding Trough.

What the gospel does remind us of is that we are to imitate Mary and provide Jesus a dwelling place in us. Just as Elizabeth and John the Baptist can rejoice in Mary’s yes to God and to the presence of the living God, Jesus, so too are we to be such a dwelling place that people can recognize in us the faith of disciples and the presence of Jesus.

And so as we approach Christmas, consider not only the gifts we give and receive, but consider how it is that you can show forth the presence of God in your life, and your witness of sharing that presence with others.

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