The season of Advent is about starting something new. Both the first reading and the Gospel refer to this newness. And they refer to it by making reference to a core teaching of our Faith: The Virgin Birth of Christ.
In the book of Isaiah, King Ahaz is in of help. His enemies are all around him, and God wants to help him out by saying, “Ask for a sign—any sign.” But Ahaz doesn’t really trust God, so he says, “I won’t ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Ahaz doesn’t want to rely on God, and so God takes matters into his own hands. He tells him through Isaiah, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Why is this important? Because for a virgin to conceive means that God has done something new! And God was faithful and fulfilled this promise 600 years later.
In the Gospel today, the angel tells Joseph that it was through the Holy Spirit that Mary conceived. Jesus was born of a virgin! That means that God has done something new. And two thousand years later God still wants to do something new in our lives. Here are two examples.
Two examples of God doing something new
St Thérèse of Lisieux described a certain nun in the convent who was difficult to like. “She could irritate me in almost everything: in her words, her actions, her character, everything!” The other nuns felt the same way. But Thérèse decided to do something new. She decided to love this person with all her heart. She prayed for her often and tried to serve her in every way.When tempted to snap at her, she gave her a beautiful smile and change the subject. These small efforts to make this sister feel loved paid off, and one day she asked Thérèse, “What attracts you to me so much? Every time you you look at me I see you smile.” Thérèse later wrote that “what attracted me was Jesus, hidden in the depths of her soul; Jesus, who makes sweet what is most bitter.” Thérèse was able to cooperate with God in doing something new and it worked.
In 1941, Mitsuo Fuchida was Japan’s greatest pilot. On December 7th, 1941, he participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war he read the testimony of Jacob DeShazer, a former POW who had been tortured in a Japanese prison camp and who was able to forgive his captors. Deeply moved, Fuchida began to read the Bible. In 1950 he met DeShazar, and shortly afterward converted to Christianity, was baptized and began to preach the Gospel. Imagine if DeShazar had decided not to share his testimony. Mitsuo Fuchida might not have become our brother in Christ.
God asks us to cooperate with Him
How can we cooperate with God in bringing the newness of his saving love to others? There are two powerful ways:
First, we can follow the example of St Thérèse. Who’s that person who irritates you the most? God is asking you to love that person. Remember, authentic Christian love is a choice to will the good of the other person. You can pray for them and offer them your warmest smile.
Second, we can follow the example of Jacob DeShazar, who not only forgave his captors for the cruel treatment he received from them, but was also willing to tell others about it. It’s not easy to forgive. It’s not easy to tell others about our faith. A lot of us think that being Catholic should be a private matter, like drinking almond milk or eating gluten-free bread. Nobody needs to know. But think about this. How did you hear about the Catholic faith? Someone told you!
God has done something entirely new: He has become one of us. Pope Francis tells us, “We have a treasure of life and love that cannot deceive, and a message that cannot mislead or disappoint. It penetrates to the depths of our hearts, sustaining and ennobling us. It is a truth that is never out of date because it reaches that part of us that nothing else can reach.” (Evangelii gaudium)
We have to share this good news with others. We can’t keep it to ourselves! This is the Good News that God wants us, his children, to give to world!