45. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THIRD WEEK OF THE ADVENT WREATH - Jesus Comes to us Through Mary

 

APPETIZER: The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive Christ in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell in "bodily form".  The Holy Spirit, "the Lord, the giver of Life", is sent to sanctify the womb of the Virgin Mary and make it fruitful, causing her to conceive the eternal Son of the Father in a humanity drawn from her own. The Father's only Son, conceived as a human being in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "the Christ", that is to say, the Anointed One consecrated by the Holy Spirit from the beginning of his human existence and manifested to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples who would follow him. Thus the whole life of Jesus Christ will make manifest "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." From the beginning Jesus was the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world as it Savior and Rescuer from sin and death. (see CCC 484-486) 

MAIN COURSE:   TheThird Week of Advent stands out from the other three by its color and spirit. The purple of the season gives way to pink which is the liturgical color of joy.  The week itself starts off with the celebration of the Third Sunday of Advent which is called "Gaudete"(from the Latin meaning "rejoice").  So, why the change? Because the hope of a Savior (theme of Week One) and the long centuries of expectation for Israel (Week Two) are drawing near to reaching their goal in the ;ittle town of Bethlehem. 

This Third Week signals the fulfillment of God’s promise and represents the era of the New Testament that began with the conception and birth of Jesus from the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this week we are especially invited to reflect upon the role of Mary in the story of salvation and turn to her whom we call “Cause of our Joy”, asking her to bring us to Jesus and to help us prepare our hearts to receive and live the meaning and message that his birth brings.  And it is in the Gospel stories of the Nativity of Christ that we find its meaning and its message spelled out for us.

With the shepherds of the Bethlehem fields we learn that Jesus is the Savior, Christ the Lord. Savior means "he who heals" and it is the mission of this Newborn Child to heal us of sin and bring us into a loving relationship with God. Christ means "Messiah" or "Anointed One".  This Child is the Promised One whose coming was foretold by the prophets. Lord is a Jewish title for divinity and it proclaims that this Little One is God come among us in the flesh.

With the Magi we learn that the Newborn Savior is someone worth searching to find. We are informed that he is a king, but not the kind we usually think of. The symbolism of the gifts they bring deliver a message about his identity.  Gold for his kingship; frankincense as worship of his divinity; and myrrh (a burial ointment) foretelling his saving death.

With Simeon in the Temple of Jerusalem, we learn that the 40-day old Baby he takes into his arms is the long promised Savior of Israel and of all peoples. Simeon tells us that the Child is a Sign that salvation has arrived on earth and a Light who shines on every human heart, revealing both the good and the bad that lays within.

So, during this Third Week of Advent we have a lot to rejoice about.  Not the superficial rejoicing that we call "holiday cheer" but that deep-down-inside sense of peace and contentment that comes from a heart that has found its Savior and has been reconciled with God.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

THE NUNC DIMITTIS (The Prayer of Simeon)

The Nunc Dimittis (named from its first two words in Latin which mean "NowDismiss") comes directly from the Gospel of St. Luke (Lk 2:29-320 and records the prayer of praise that the elderly Simeon exclaimed upon taking the Infant Jesus into his arms.  It is prayed every night by clergy, nuns, monks and lay people as part of the Liturgy of the Hours (the official daily prayer book of the Church).  It is a would be a good custom for all Christians to join in the nightly prayer before going to sleep.

LORD, now you let you servant go in peace; 

your word has been fulfilled; 

my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared 

in the sight of every people: 

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people, Israel.

PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED MOTHER

Adapted from the Mass in Honor of Mary, Cause of our Joy

Rejoice, Virgin Mary, you have found favor with God!
Listen; you will conceive and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.

OR

Lord our God, you were pleased to bring joy to the world

through the Incarnation of your Son.

Grant that we who honor his Mother, the cause of our joy,

may always walk in the way of your commandments

with our hearts set on true and lasting joy.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

OR

Lord, holy Father, we honor the memory of the Blessed Virgin,

the daughter of your love, and with her we wish to  proclaim with fitting praise 

the greatness of your name.

Her blessed birth heralded joy for all the world.

Her virgin-motherhood brought forth the true Light, the source of all joy.

Her hidden life brings light and warmth to all Christians in the world.

Her passing into glory has raised her to the heights of heaven,

where, as our sister and our Mother, she waits for us with loving care.

May we be inspired by her and helped by her prayers, until we come to enjoy 

the vision of your glory for ever. Amen.

SCRIPTURE VERSE TO MEMORIZE: "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Lk 1:26, 42)