4th Sun of Advent - Time To Rejoice

Beads of Joy 12-20-09

4th Sun Advent - Time To Rejoice
©2009 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Hallelujah, Praise You Jesus. Here we are celebrating the 4th Sunday of Advent. Today we will reflect on how it is that our life's choices and expression affect those around us. We have influence on others, more than I think most of us might realize. Today's gospel is: Luke 1:39-45 (Mary Visits Elizabeth). We must remember that God, through His power, works His will through His children. It is such a blessing when we meet someone we know the Lord is working His miracles and His will through. Are we able to truly recognize the presence of the Lord in someones life? Are we able to really know that He is present in our own? What we do to fulfill God's will is critical to all of us, we don't realize sometimes how critical that is.

Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury back in the 11th century actually summed it up best, "With God's Son nothing could exist; without Mary's son, nothing could be redeemed." Mary was chosen by God, her choice to say, "Yes" to God and fulfill God's will through her life affected all of us. As we know, because she said yes, she received both the joy and sorrow of that choice. It is a huge privilege and responsibility to be chosen by God. Our joy must not decrease when we begin our lives journey of following God's will. The road will at times be hard, we will be confronted with difficulties, sorrow and pain. But knowing that the Lord gives us a supernatural joy, that death can't even take away; we are able to have the strength to forge forward in His name to do His will.

What it is about Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth before Jesus' birth that is so important for us to understand and see? Is it the joy of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit that leaped into Elizabeth's womb, and John's immediate recognition of the Messiah? Was it Mary's unselfish act of love to be there for her cousin, because Elizabeth to was pregnant? Was that part of the story of the birth of Jesus, critical for us to understand the true power of the Holy Spirit and how much the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus' presence to us? So much to think about, so much to understand. I think we are beginning to see how these subtleties of obedience really do affect those around us. God worked His will through Mary's Grace of charity towards her cousin. We must learn by her example, and her life that we to can be a wonderful instrument for God's will. That is why Mary is so important for us, in our walk with Jesus.

Today let us reflect upon how we can live our life more in line with God's will, staying true to His word, and His ways. Our life must be lived selflessly, and our arms must be open to help others, no matter what challenges we ourselves are going through. If indeed God dwells within us and we are His instrument to share His love, we need to live in that joy and knowledge, of His presence in our every waking moment. Mary has given us a most joyous gift through her Son. But let us also recognize that her life of obedience and love for others also is significant for us to learn from. It is so important for us to love her, and adore her love for our Lord. All that she did is so important for us to observe as we walk in God's will in our own lives. Trust in God's choice in Mary.

She is an example we should all embrace.


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO