Advent means arrival and specifically harkens the arrival of the Christ child, Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospel readings throughout Advent always expand the meaning of Jesus’ arrival. For example, the Advent readings include Jesus’ arrival into public ministry. John the Baptist’s experience is thus emphasized. The readings also include messages mistakenly interpreted as Jesus’ arrival at the end of the world. Granting the mistaken interpretation, people’s experience of Jesus’ arrival into their own lives, the lives of others, and into the world is emphasized. A consequence of the expanded understanding of arrival is a loss of Mary’s experience of Jesus’ arrival. Lost is the point of view of a pregnant woman awaiting the arrival of her child. Lost to us as well is that same point of view and experience of all childbearing women.
Commentary on this First Sunday of Advent’s Gospel is about staying alert and being watchful and thus focuses on the mistaken interpretation of Jesus’ arrival in an end-times scenario. Readers are cautioned to stay awake. Also, we are to be especially watchful lest death takes us from this life we know. We are cautioned to be ready for our life with God arriving after our death. A point of view from Mary’s experience provides different lessons. A pregnant woman stays awake – for the new life miraculously moving and kicking inside her. A pregnant woman stays awake not with dread and fear about an end of life but in prayer and hope for the beginning of life. She stays awake caressing her belly and rousing her baby’s health, happiness, and wholeness. It is also the case that a pregnant woman knows a death will be taking her from the life she knows. If she is pregnant for the first time, she knows that much is dying – her same degree of freedom, decision making, and inclination to control her own life is dying. Her old priorities are dying as are old relationships with everyone and everything else. No longer will these relationship be lived as they once were in the past. With patience and love spread over a seemingly quick but significant nine months a pregnant woman will learn to accept the dying of the old and the welcoming of the new. She is, after the necessary dying, fully ready for her and her baby’s necessary living.
“Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of my life.” (Holly Madison)
Prayer: Spirit of Life, may we always welcome the arrival of new life.
Question: How might expectant fathers be encouraged to undergo a dying to the old so as to welcome the arrival of the new?
December 03, 2017 Gospel Mark 13:33-37 First Sunday of Advent