Our Lord Is Nearer Than Ever Before

 

Our Lord comes to meet us joyfully.

Reflection on Today’s Readings 21st December of Advent, 2023
Texts: Song of Solomon 2:8-14; Psalm 33:2-3,11-12,20-21; Luke 1:39-45  

Today’s readings impress on our minds that the coming of our Lord is nearer than ever before and more assuring; we could feel His presence now. In the first reading, we read, “Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.” The first reading also shows that our Lord comes to meet us joyfully. We read, “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.” Just as the Lord comes to us joyfully we are to prepare for Him joyfully.  

The first reading emphasises the evidence of our Lord’s coming in the environment. We read, “The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.” This shows that the time is ripe and right for the coming of the Lord; the creation is prepared to receive Him; we are prepared to welcome Him into our lives. The question is this: Are we truly prepared to receive the Lord? 

Let us, therefore, live in the spirit

Today’s gospel reading is the story of the visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. The visitation brings about the meeting of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, both in their mothers’ wombs. We see in the story the role of Holy Spirit during Advent. Holy Spirit helps us to discern the presence of Christ. We read, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’” Elizabeth discerned the presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit. This tells us that it is those who live in the spirit that can discern the presence of Chris44t. Let us, therefore, live in the spirit.  

We see in John the Baptist that encounter with Christ engenders joy and peace. We read, “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” John the Baptist encountered Christ in Virgin Mary and leapt for joy. Christ is also present in our neighbours. Seeing our neighbours should fill us with joy. The presence of our neighbours should not bring sadness. Christ is also in the needy, the poor, the orphans, the widows, the disabled, less privileged, etc. We are to meet Christ in them.
 

Prayer

 
Hear in kindness, O Lord, the prayers of your people, that those who rejoice at the coming of your Only Begotten Son in our flesh may, when at last he comes in glory, gain the reward of eternal life. Amen (Collect)
 
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke