Today’s readings originate in an Old Testament story – actually, a recurring theme that traces all the way back to the story of Abraham and Sarah … the Father and Mother of all three of the world’s major faiths – Christianity, Judaism and Muslim.
It goes like this … a married couple, man and woman, have struggled to have a child. After many attempts, they have given up, until God intervenes and works a “miracle” to allow the barren woman to give birth to a baby.
In scripture studies, this is often referred to as ABND – which is an acronym for a process that encompasses the following steps: Annunciation and Birth, Naming of the child and the particular Destiny of the child’s future.
Obviously, this time of the year, we think a lot about a very young Mary who is suddenly thrust into history by becoming the Mother of our Lord … the Christmas story!
But this story – this struggle – is very much part of many lives today.
As an adult minister at my Catholic Church, I hear over and over again the stories of couples who struggle to have a child. They go through many trials and tribulations as they try “this method,” “that experiment,” and countless medical treatments.
All so they can participate fully in God’s plan to populate the earth – “like the stars in the sky” (so says the promise to Abraham in Genesis) – and begin their own lives as parents.
It does not always happen as planned; many couples are left in sorrow and sadness, searching for answers … wondering why God has not given them the gift of motherhood and fatherhood.
These are tough stories and difficult conversations to have.
Nobody knows the mind of God.
But, we do have faith that God loves us and asks us to always be open to life – which is why we as a Catholic Church view abortion and artificial birth control as an absolute anathema! We include the death penalty and euthanasia in the same conversation because we – as Catholics – cannot and should not ever take on the role of God and decide who lives and who dies … no matter the circumstances.
Today’s first reading tells the story of Manoah – the father of Samson – who has gone through this struggle with his wife (who is not given a name in the Book of Judges). Because of God’s intervention through an angel, Manoah’s wife is given the gift of bearing a child, despite her barren state.
The result is Samson, a somewhat mythical figure whose strength is tied to the length of his hair. His story is definitely one to study and ponder, but for today, suffice it to say that the faith of Manoah and his bride are key to producing a child that changed the course of history.
The Gospel today tells a very similar story from the Gospel of Luke … somewhat forgotten by many during this season when everyone is keyed up for the birth of Christ.
This story, instead, tells of the circumstances of the birth of John the Baptist and how his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth were long past the point of hoping for parenthood. Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin) had grown to an old age without child.
When the very same angel – Gabriel – who had appeared to the parents of Samson, also appeared to Zechariah to give him the good news that he would be a DAD and that Elizabeth would be a MOM to a son who would one day change the world …
Zechariah doubted.
How could this be? Like Abraham …he doubted. We have tried so many times … we have lost hope.
Oh … how many couples have lost hope?
Today’s generation often chooses to “put off parenting” until they are “ready.”
Often that leads to attempts to conceive children at a later stage in life … which causes so many complications and struggles. Some choose to simply ignore the natural inclination to perpetuate human life and survival for a variety of reasons – a very sad commentary on how we tend to view our lives and our existence on earth.
It’s not all about us.
It’s about everyone else.
Love is not all about how you feel in your marriage or in your relationship …
Love is not about how YOU see your future as (maybe) a mom or a dad …
Love is about giving yourself to your spouse and to God – every moment of your married life – and being open to the gift of life … an incredible gift in which you have the true opportunity to “participate with God” and create another human being!
Manoah knew this. Although he was not sure – we all have doubts – he had enough faith in God to allow it to happen … and BOOM, we all know the story of Samson and his extraordinary life.
Zechariah doubted as well, but he also went along with God’s plan, producing a son – John the Baptist – whose preaching would lay the red carpet for the emergence of Jesus (whose own parents had the same struggle of dealing with “adulting” and parenthood)!
In the end, the lesson of today’s readings – and in fact, the lesson of this season – is this: God has a plan for all of us – but especially moms and dads, who have the opportunity to breathe new life into this crazy world!
Who can really look at a young couple today and advise them not to have children? Or, sadly and tragically, that they should abort a child before it can be born, simply because the time is not right?
A child that is never born is a child that has no chance to change the world.
Think of all the many things that our world needs – a cure for cancer, a solution to homelessness and depression, a way to bring peace to the Middle East.
We don’t have the answers to these problems today.
Just like the Old Testament times of the ancient Hebrews who were looking for the inspiration of larger-than-life figures like Samson …
Just like the New Testament times of the Hebrews who were preparing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – whose birth was not “planned” …
Just like the story of John the Baptist – who worked tirelessly to proclaim the message that the real savior, the real message of humility, grace and redemption was at hand …
We all need to embrace the lessons of our faith …
We need to be open to life, no matter our circumstances or our current state in life.
We need to trust in God.
We need to put our own cultural desires on the backburner … life rarely – never? – turns out exactly the way we want.
But … if we “let go” and “let God” … we might actually find the peace and joy that we all seek this time of year.
It would be a peace of mind and heart that would extend beyond Christmas …
A peace that could sustain us throughout our lives.
