Just as Mary had gone "in haste" to see her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:39), the shepherds go "in haste" to Bethlehem to discover "Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger." The events of the conception and birth of Christ seem to be accompanied by a holy haste, of which Mary is a full participant, as if, after centuries of slow and sinful dullness, God's saving action hastened life.
Mary also shows a quiet, contemplative attitude, as we have already considered (see my meditation for year A), but contemplation is not lethargy. There is a joy, a liveliness, even a quickness, that comes with God's intervention in our lives. Those in love know this very well: things speed up when one is in love, even the heart seems to beat faster. It could not be less with divine love. This is expressed and celebrated in that great Old Testament song of divine and human love, the Song of Songs: "A rumor...! My beloved! See him, here he comes, leaping over the mountains, prancing over the hills. " (Song 2:8).
The Church gives us this feast to begin each year, so that we may place ourselves in Our Lady's hands and also so that we may learn from her how to face the year ahead. Certainly with her prayerful and contemplative attitude: "Mary, for her part, kept all these things, pondering them in her heart." But also with the speed of her love and generosity, running with her to help those in need, and running to her, because where she is, we always find Christ, her Son.
And in Mary's presence, like the shepherds, we have the courage and confidence to proclaim all that we have seen and learned about Christ: "...".they told what they had been told about that child". With Mary's gentle encouragement, and that of Joseph, everyone feels confident to play their role and make their contribution: men, women, rich, poor, workers, scholars... And after this encounter with the Holy Family, the shepherds can return to the work "giving glory and praise to God". The encounter with Mary becomes an encounter with Christ and leads us to face life - and the new year that begins - with a profound joy in God.
But suffering does not take long to become present. Mary and Joseph will have to witness the beginning of Christ's suffering in his circumcision, through which Jesus enters and identifies himself with the people of Israel. And Mary identifies herself with the suffering of Jesus, as she will do later on the Cross. Thus, she teaches us the holy haste, the contemplative spirit and the willingness to suffer in union with Christ.
Homily on the readings of Mary, Mother of God (C)
Priest Luis Herrera Campo offers his nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
