The Mass reading on Friday was a one-two punch describing the glory of Christ’s kingship in a vision of the prophet Daniel. “His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire—a thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.”
Overnight we go from the bombast of the Last Things and begin anticipating the birth of the King of the Universe come to us last March twenty-fifth as a zygote in the womb of an obscure virgin in Palestine.
God of surprises? Our God always dishes out reality in a way that our perception knows it cannot fully absorb. We have a longing to understand and love the truth, but Truth always leads us beyond our grasp and leaves us—in wonder.
These are the Christian Mysteries that keep us in wonder of the God who created everything from nothing and keeps us in being every second. We begin today to ponder the mystery of the Baby who himself is the Author of Life.
Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation welcomed the King of Creation into her heart, into her womb, into the nation of Israel, into the human race—Mary’s “yes” welcomed the God of Eternity into time, that he might show us the way to his eternity.
Zygote-King, Shepherd-Master, God-Man. In union with Mary, we anticipate your birth and ponder the power of calling you—a newborn shivering in a manger—our destiny, our glory, and our brother, come Christmas Eve. Jesus, make our waiting, like that of Israel, like that of Mary, bear abundant fruit for your Kingdom.
Love always,
Rose
Fiona Morrissey
A beautifully written message Rose. I especially like the phrase “Zygote-King”.
Rose Folsom
Yes, amazing to ponder. Thanks for your comment!
Linda Hartzell
A blessed season of advent to you, Rose.
Linda
Rose Folsom
Thanks, dear Linda!
Tom Roberts
The surrealism of Daniel seems to vex even biblical scholars. How welcome, then, is the clear message of hope as in Isaiah 11 ( Tuesday, 12/3) where he speaks of judging the poor with justice and of a peaceable kingdom where “the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together.” Or how about the Gospel for Monday, 12/2 where Jesus is approachable even by a centurion, a gentile, an admitted authoritarian carrying out the dictates of an oppressive empire. Yet even in this man Jesus sees faith unmatched in Israel.
Rose Folsom
Yes, Jesus is always doing a smack-down on people who think they’ve got a corner on salvation. Thank God for the Sacraments (Jesus himself) that give us so much help, but he sure reminds us not to get complacent or to think small when it comes to his mercy.