The Joy of the Unexpected

the child in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy

One of my favorite memories is of a surprise birthday party a friend gave me a number of years ago. It was totally unexpected, a true surprise which moved me to gratitude. I suspect that is why I have always loved the passage in the Gospel of Luke in which Mary travels to Elizabeth’s house to serve her pregnant cousin. It is clear that Mary’s arrival was unexpected because Elizabeth cried out: “And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43) Elizabeth’s joy was enhanced by amazement and awed recognition: she simultaneously recognized Mary’s role as well as the presence of the Son of God whom she was carrying in her womb. So deep was this recognition that at Mary’s greeting even the child within Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. She was filled with gratitude to God at her own pregnancy, and yet God had more to give her in sending these unexpected guests. Elizabeth must have felt incredibly special, deeply loved, that the coming of the Messiah was not only revealed to her, but that He made Himself present to her in this way. The joy of these converging realities is unimaginable.

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burned without being consumed

​We may think this surprise by God was unique, and yet isn’t this how God always behaves? If we think about the great figures in the Old Testament, we will realize that God arrived unexpectedly to call many of them into His service. For example, God came to Moses when he was tending flocks, coming in a truly unprecedented way through a bush which burned without being consumed. Thus, we can imagine the shock that Zechariah, (a Sadducee), experienced when the angel came as he was doing his priestly duties in the Temple. He never expected a heavenly visitor who would bring the incredible message that not only would he have a son, but that this son would be the forerunner of the Messiah! Zechariah was so surprised, (unbelieving), he was rendered speechless!* As with Zechariah, we can be sure that Mary was not expecting an angel on the day of the Annunciation. She was a woman of deep reflection and prayer who loved God with a depth of purity we cannot comprehend. Mary was always waiting on God as His “handmaid” (Luke 1:38), and with such an interior attitude, she was also always ready to respond. However, rather than one of incredulity, her response to the unexpected was humbly faith-filled; all she wanted was to know how she might fulfill God’s will.

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we are invited into the waiting

The theme of expectant waiting is an important part of Advent, but it is important that we consider the unexpected as well, (especially since we know Jesus will return at an unexpected time.)​** Although all of Israel had been awaiting the coming of a Messiah, everything about who Jesus was and how He came was anything but expected: He was neither king nor from a family of rich estate and no one expected that He would be the Son of God. The arrival and ministry of Jesus was awaited, but all of how it came to be and what He came to do was not what was envisioned by anyone (except perhaps the great prophets ‘of old.’) Thus, in Advent we are invited into the waiting, but we are also challenged to open ourselves to God’s entrance into our lives in a new, perhaps unexpected way.

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openness, welcome, humility, and gratitude

Praying with both Mary and Elizabeth’s response to surprise is a way to open our minds to how we ought to respond when called. Mary responded to the angel’s announcement by welcoming the Holy Spirit in His ‘overshadowing,’ and her humble gratitude spilled outward in service. Elizabeth’s question to Mary is also important because it reflects the disposition of heart we need to have: it flows from a heart oriented to openness, welcome, humility, and gratitude. She knows who she is before God and as a result she is able to offer the Son of God and His mother a place of welcome, her joy arising from her gratitude at their presence. Therefore, if we want to be prepared for the Lord this Advent we can turn to Elizabeth and adopt her inner disposition as our own. We can study and pray with the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel as a way to learn from both holy women. We can examine how open we have been to God, whether we have welcomed Him (especially when He surprises us), and whether we have greeted Him with humility and then gratitude. And finally, we can ponder whether we would have the faith of Elizabeth so as to welcome Him when we think whatever we are grappling with is an impossible situation. If we need help in any of these areas, we can ask the Lord for the graces we need. 

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my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!

​It is important to recognize that every day the Lord of Heaven and Earth does come to us. If our hearts are open to His arrival, we will learn to always expect Him, although the how and when may come as a surprise. And when He comes, similarly to Elizabeth, we can humbly ask: “How does this happen that my Lord should come to me?” Now, as always, His response will be one of love and mercy. And hopefully we will echo Mary’s words after meeting Elizabeth whose baby leapt: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!”

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may we allow Mary, pregnant with Jesus to come to us

May we allow Mary, pregnant with Jesus, to come to us that we might contemplate the mystery of how she bore Him in her womb with love beyond all telling! May we be like Elizabeth with a disposition of openness, welcome, humility, and gratitude for Jesus’ great gift of presence so that when He arrives our heart will leap for joy! And may we receive the unexpected graces God intends for us this Advent! Let us meet in the graces of the Visitation! Peace! Marana tha! Come O Lord!

                                                      ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: My next post will be on Tuesday, December 26 which is a day later than usual. Christmas blessings to all!
* Zechariah must have been a Sadducee because these were the priestly class of Jews; remember, Sadducees did not believe there was such a thing as a Messiah. And yes, I have taken a liberty meant for emphasis with why Zechariah was rendered unable to speak. It was actually his disbelief which was 'disciplined' by the angel that caused his tongue to cease to function. 
​** The word Advent means “an arrival or coming, especially one which is awaited."(dictionary.com) Therefore, it infers expectation since awaiting something means we are both hoping and expecting that it will come at some point. We must also remember that what we prepare for at Christmas is not just a celebration of the Incarnation, important as that is, but we are preparing for the Second Coming of Christ.

Images:
1. My photo; a stained glass window in the church of the Visitation taken in Ain Karim, the place where the Visitation is said to have taken place in Israel. It seems to me that Elizabeth is depicted just as she is saying, “And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
2. Icon; Mt Sinai Theotokos the Burning Bush, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I love this icon because it combines the unexpected arrival of the Son of God within Mary, but also that she is burning with the fire of God's love that does not consume her literally, but which burns intensely
within her. 'Love Who is God' joins His divinity with humanity within her. If you would like to obtain a copy of this icon, you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/mt-sinai-theotokos-the-burning-bush-131-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. My photo; waiting for rain, taken in Big Bend National Park in Texas. It was clear that rain was coming and we sat watching and expectantly waiting.
4. Icon; The Mother of God Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This has to be one of my favorite icons because it contains such mystery and beauty. Again, if you are interested in purchasing a copy of this in one of many mediums, go to ​fineartamerica.com/featured/the-mother-of-god-overshadowed-by-the-holy-spirit-118-william-hart-mcnichols.html
(Remember, I do not get any remuneration from my endorsement of the work of by Fr. Bill, except the joy of sharing the beauty of his icons.)
5. My photo; in the highlands of Scotland. This is a place of beauty and tranquility, thus the presence of God was tangible to me there.
6. My photo of a painting; Mary riding on a donkey accompanied by angels as she traveled to see Elizabeth. This painting is on the exterior of the Church of the Visitation, Ain Karim, Israel.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

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