Are
you afraid of God? Are you afraid of His presence? How close will
you let God get to you? How much of your life, of your heart, will
you share with God?
Do
you know how King David answered these questions? David feared God
with holy reverence, but was never afraid of Him coming too close.
David, after he took his throne and established peace, actually went
out to bring God to Jerusalem. David travelled to the hill-country
of Judah, for the Ark of the Covenant, the concrete sign of God's
presence with His people, containing the Ten Commandments, some
manna, and the staff of Aaron, which dwelt in a tent and was with the
Hebrews those 40 years throughout the desert and led them into the
Promised Land. This one and only Ark David ceremonially brought into
the new capital city, Jerusalem, as a sign of God's blessing and
approval of David. No he wasn't afraid at all; rather, David lets
God come as close as possible, and he rejoices to the point of
dancing before the Lord.
Mary
wasn't afraid of God either, though she also showed a great
reverence, what we call “fear of the Lord,” or a respect for who
God is, and it shows itself in a submissive posture to God's
revelation, as well as a desire to hear God. Mary shows these
qualities perfectly when God comes close to her, as she also shows
her extreme courage in accepting a dangerous proposal along with
making the journey (presumably alone) across the wilderness to see
Elizabeth.
Micah
tells us that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem, the city where
David grew up as a shepherd boy before God made him a king. This
small town of Judah is also near where Mary comes to find her cousin
Elizabeth. And so God Himself comes close to Elizabeth, “in the
midst” or in the “womb” (same Hebrew word) of Mary, who has now
become the true Ark of the Covenant, bearing within her the Word of
God which brings to fulfillment the Ten Commandments and the Bread of
Life which fulfills the manna of the desert. Does Elizabeth cower in
fear? No. When the ark is brought to her, Elizabeth rejoices; even
John the Baptist rejoices, dancing before the Lord Jesus. They are
not afraid. Why should they be? They know God to be a merciful,
loving Lord who has delivered them from bondage, who has showered
them with blessings. They know the Messiah will make true the
promises of old, summarized in CCC 64, which says Through
the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the
expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be
written on their hearts. The prophets proclaim a radical redemption
of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a
salvation which will include all the nations. Above all, the poor
and humble of the Lord will bear this hope.
Mary
and Elizabeth bear this hope. Mary, as the Ark of the Covenant,
bears it quite literally in her midst, in her womb.
Are
you afraid of God coming too close? King David, Mary, Elizabeth, and
John the Baptist were not. They bore in their hearts a fear of
the Lord, but were not filled
with any terror at his coming so close. The fear of the
Lord, one of the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit, gave them a reverence
for God, a respect
for who He is and for His words, a desire
to find His Will and carry it out.
Whether
God coming too close scares you or not, He is upon you. Christmas is
two days away, and God visits you. Here in this Mass, God visits
you. Mary is also a symbol of the Church, and here in the womb of
the Church, here in your midst, comes the Lord Jesus in the
Eucharist. Approach Him with a Holy fear, let Him come closer than
you ever have before, and experience the joy and peace that King
David hoped for, that Elizabeth and John the Baptist saw, that Mary
knew every moment after Gabriel's words. Come Lord Jesus!
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