Fr. Chris - Third Sunday of Advent 2020 - Homily

​“Preparing to See the Lord with Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)”
Part 3: Oratio (Address)

Mary stands at the doorway of their humble home, savouring the warmth of the bright sunlight falling across the threshold. She has just finished putting away the cheese and bread and goat’s milk from their early morning breakfast. She takes pleasure in knowing her mother, Anne, will be pleased to see the cups and plates washed, drying on the wooden trestle table. She has also swept the ashes and crumbs from the floor into the crackling fireplace.
 
But now the garden beckons her with its mix of wild flowers and bright coloured vegetables, the garden where she still cannot fathom what happened to her the day before. She picks up a jug of water and begins to feed the dry ground around the tall plants, marvelling at the complexity of their creation, their blossoms and seeds which bring forth such magnificient new life. And she thinks of the mysterious, new life, a divine seed, now growing and forming within the garden of her own soul.
 
Her life, her entire being, has been completely transformed by the visitation and the embrace of the Holy Spirit the day before. And in such a profound way, she finds it extremely difficult to describe to her parents, Anne and Joachim. Yet, it did happen.
 
She knows the bliss and rapture of being in complete union with her Creator. Now, nothing else matters. All things of our world vastly pale in comparison with God’s. Her life is now a vessel of happiness beyond human comprehension. She will never be, nor want, anything less than to be in constant union with God.
 
Sorrow and challenges will certainly come. Mary knows in her heart the great sacrifice her Son will make. But Mary would say, “Once you feel the actual presence of God come over you, your whole life’s purpose will change, enhancing your work and relationships, but only relationship with God will truly matter!   
 
As she sings the Great Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour,” God IS Our Saviour! Not ‘warrior nor conqueror’ as the Jewish nation had longed for – but Our Saviour!
 
Mary’s Joy rings out, because she acknowledges with deep satisfaction and relief that only God is in control, the One who saves us with omnipotent, spiritual power: healing us, guiding us, protecting us, bringing us true peace. No amount of money, prestige nor security will ever bring us the true fulfillment in life Christ brings us. Only Christ brings true Joy into our existence! Mary knew this! Experienced it! Sings of it! Rejoices in it! Her heart is filled with Joy as she begins a new life of remarkable service to God. It is what we especially celebrate today: Joy! The Joy of being privileged to know Christ. The Joy of being a Christian!
 
In Vol. 1 of ‘In Conversation with God’, Francis Fernandez tells us, “We will have difficulties, … but whether they are great or small, these contradictions will never be able to destroy our [joy] and happiness [in God]. We have to expect setbacks as part … of life. … We [would] have no opportunities at all for growing in virtue, if we had no obstacles to overcome. … Christ knows everything which is going to happen in our lives, including those things which will result from our stupidity or lack of sanctity. But he has the remedy for them all. … Our lady knew many such contradictions when she came to Bethlehem. … But these problems did not cause her to lose her Joy when God became Man, and dwelt among us. … With Jesus, we find meaning in our lives.”
 
God is our Saviour and Joy is what binds us together in relationship with him.
 
But can we experience the same euphoria and exultation Mary did? The same overwhelming Joy of union with God? This is a key reason why we want to learn to pray the 4 steps of ‘lectio divina’, or the Contemplative Prayer of ‘Sacred Reading’.
 
The first week we read a scripture passage quietly, slowly, several times, even over several days. This past week, we meditated upon a phrase or even just a single word which might have stood out for us, moving us to ask, ‘Why is it so prominent?’
 
It is here we enter Step 3: Oratio, asking God for feedback: “God, why is this phrase or word speaking to me? What am I to learn from it? Can you assist me?”
 
This week, over the coming days, ask the Lord in this very same way for guidance. And don’t be surprised if God answers, perhaps in a way we don’t expect: Step 4!

– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario