Breaking the Word

2^nd Week of Advent, Thursday –09^th December 2021 — Gospel:  Mt 11,11-15

Being Least

John is praised for preparing people to hear the message of the coming reign of God. And Jesus also mentions that those who are in the kingdom of God will be greater than John the Baptist. In a sense, Jesus is saying that John does not belong to the new era of God’s kingdom inaugurated by Jesus. While the content of John’s proclamation about the kingdom is same as that of Jesus, yet even the least in the kingdom is greater than John. The “least” in the kingdom may refer to Jesus who is “younger” than John. However, here it seems to refer to the disciples. They are greater than John because they have the privilege of seeing the inauguration of the kingdom which John was not privileged to see. They are also the ones who recognize the Messiah and point to him more clearly than John.

Immaculate Conception, Wednesday — 8^th December 2021 — Gospel: Luke 1,26-38

Mary, the Humble Virgin

The conception of Jesus is distinct and unlike anything before in salvation history. The birth narrative emphasizes twice in 1,27 that Mary is a virgin. Further she herself confirms her virginity (1,34) and her lack of sexual experience. God’s intervention in her life was not the result of anything she could have anticipated. Mary’s virginal conception was made possible by her free acceptance of the role as “mother of the Messiah”. But her call as a virgin and her human cooperation with the divine unfolds to her and to everyone a special mission in salvation history.

As Gabriel greets Mary, he declares her to be the one who has been favoured with the unmerited grace of God. Her son will be the Messiah, the one who will receive the throne of his ancestor, King David, and his reign will be everlasting, fulfilling the promises of the ancient covenant (1,32-33).  He will also be the Son of God, conceived through the overshadowing power of God’s spirit. “The Most High”, “the Son of God”, and “the Holy Spirit”, described as the Trinity in later interpretation, are present here at this climactic moment of amazing grace. Mary responds with perfect humility, for she is a humble woman from a small village. Mary stands in the middle of this drama as God’s listening, humble and willing servant. She receives the word of God in her heart, and consents to conceive the Son of God in her womb. Mary’s assent is totally free and not made without considering its costly consequences, but with the sole purpose of salvation for the humankind.