Christmas Hastening

Maranatha

Christmas is finally here, and like most years I am sure you have experienced, or at least have seen in others, the necessary haste that the preparation for Christmas generates . The movements of society increase in their haste during these final days and hours up to Christmas day. We have a greater sense of urgency and mission for the final preparations.

In the Gospel of Luke we see the word haste used three times. The first is after our blessed mother Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. Not only does she give her fiat, but she learns of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy and within days moves with HASTE from Nazareth to the city of Judah. This was a 80 to 100 mile journey. That would be 5 days walking, or 3 with a caravan. So in this instance we have Mary arriving only days pregnant, meaning Jesus’ human form is still on the microscopic level. To the eye there is nothing new about Mary, yet when her voice reaches the ear of Elizabeth, the 6 month in eutero John leaps for joy. The forerunner’s forerunner, Mary, has arrived and with her, John’s King, Jesus. And so begins John’s mission to announce that coming, which he does through the words of his mother, Elizabeth.

Jesus the incarnate, visible only at the microscopic level, indiscernible to most, yet still fully present to those who are open to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Present by grace, yet not merely because he is God, but because he is also man, and to reject one nature would be to reject the other. These two combined natures are the reason Blessed Mary is called the Mother of God, the Theotokos, the God-bearer. When we accept Mary’s motherhood of God, we accept not only Mary’s microscopic child, we accept our Savior, and at the same time our Savior’s humanity. So why do we reject motherhood? Why do we reject the humanity of our own children when they are at this same stage of maturation? Why, when they are made in the image of Christ?

The Second time haste is mentioned is after the angel Gabriel visits the Shepards in the field. Upon being instructed that the anointed one, the Christ, has arrived and can now be found in a stable, they move in HASTE to the stable. Why HASTE? For centuries they have heard of this promise. They have been told by their parents and grand parents and great grand parents, about the promise of the Christ. That he will one day come and there will be peace on Earth. The promised anointed one has arrived. Isaiah reminds us that even the Ox and Ass know, do we?
3 The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand.” Isaiah 1:3 RSV-CE

The time of fulfilment is now. The first Christmas has begun.

You too are receiving word of this promise. Move with haste, He is here. And longs for you to come and be with Him.

The final time of hastening, we find Zacchaeus up a tree, with our Lord beckoning him to make HASTE and come down. We too can find ourselves “up a tree”, lost a bit confused not sure which way to go or what to say or do. However, if we just open our eyes we will see our Lord calling us to simply climb down and to come be with Him on sure ground. That once near Him and seeking to follow His instructions our movements become more clear. Our direction more sure. Our purpose defined. Zacchaeus opened the door of his house to the Lord, but more importantly he opened the door of his heart. And once our Lord made residence there, Zacchaeus, sought to make penance and reparations for all his misgivings.