Today's Office of Readings

Today's entire second reading from St. Ambrose is worth reading, but for me it is important to recall that these reflections from the early church fathers aren't Scripture. So, for instant, Elizabeth cannot prophesy under the influence of her son in the way that Mary can under the influence of hers, yet the Holy Spirit who prompts John's leap then influences Elizabeth's words. I'm probably quibbling. More pertinent for me is this essential truth of Advent:

According to the flesh only one woman can be the mother of Christ but in the world of faith Christ is the fruit of all of us. For every soul can receive the Word of God if only it is pure and preserves itself in chastity and modesty.- from St. Ambrose's commentary on St. Luke's Gospel.

Of the three comings of Christ which we commemorate in Advent, this is the one that has the most bearing on our lives. Yes, the children of Israel waited centuries for the promised Messiah, and Jesus fulfills every prophecy. Yes, we believe that Christ will come again in glory to bring all his precious ones to the place he has prepared for us. Yet it is Christ's coming to us, by the Holy Spirit, where we are today, that determines whether those other advents are of any consequence to us whatever. Only to the degree we have received in faith the child who became incarnate to deliver us all does any other coming of Christ matter to us.

How can we expect Christmas to be filled with the light and joy of Christ's presence if we do not enter into that presence each day? Thus does St. Ambrose go on:

The soul that has been able to reach this state proclaims the greatness of the Lord just as Mary did and rejoices in God its saviour just like her.- ibid.

And yet, those of us who are not quite there yet will yet proclaim God's greatness to the degree we allow his presence to permeate our lives.