I believe that there are two types of people in this world: those who like surprises and those who don’t. I, for one, do not like surprises. And I think the reason why is that the surprise usually doesn’t end well for me. Let me give you a perfect example.
When I was in high school, I was taking a girl to a dance, and I was all dressed up in fancy clothes, fancy shoes, etc. I drove over to her house, picked her up and off we went. Once we arrived, she asked me, “Can I have some food?” I gladly said “yes” and walked over to the food trucks – only to my surprise, there was a huge line. So I waited there for like 30 minutes. When I came back, she thanked me and then asked for some dessert. So I went back in line and waited another 45 minutes. I came back and she says, “Thanks, but I have one more request.” At this point, I’m about to lose it and say, “What is it this time?” She says, “Can I have some punch?” So, I walk over to the punch table, but to my surprise, there was no punch line. (I think that ending may have surprised some of you.)
I think those of us who struggle with enjoying surprises probably do so because we like to be in control. When we’re surprised, we’re reminded that we’re not in control, and that really bugs us. I’ve learned that the secret to dealing with surprises is all in how you accept it.
Take Mary, for example. She was given a huge surprise. She had just been told by an angel that she was going to have a baby. She now has to tell Joseph and is probably worried about his response. She had to face the health issues of being pregnant. She had to plan for the birth of her child, where he would sleep, what he would wear, and how he would be educated. Like every new mother, Mary was filled with all kinds of questions, responsibilities, and fears.
I don’t know about you, but if I had been Mary, I would have been freaking out that I was carrying the Son of God. I think I would have wanted to bury myself in the sand. But not Mary. She fully accepted it, knowing that she wasn’t in control. With all the things going on in Mary’s mind, the last thing she needed to do was to hop on a donkey and journey to a tiny town in the hills. But that’s exactly what she did by visiting Elizabeth. Why? Because Mary’s primary focus was on the people in her life. If her cousin was going to have a child, especially at her age, she wanted to be there to celebrate this God-given gift.
Today’s gospel (Luke 1:39-45) provides us a beautiful example of how we are to live – by reminding us of the importance of taking time to recognize and appreciate the people in our lives. We really need this lesson now more than ever because believe it or not, next weekend is Christmas.
I’m guessing that most of you are ready or close to being ready for the big day. Our gospel reminds us that as we carry out our Christmas plans and celebrations, we should not forget about the people. We become so preoccupied with the gifts, the food, and the traditions that we forget to actually spend time with the people we love. I can’t tell you how many times Stephanie and I have said that we barely spoke with anyone at the party because we were too busy being hospitable. Something is terribly wrong with this picture; because when we really think about it, all the things we do and all the traditions we follow are for the sake of the people we love.
Mary knew that nothing was more important than getting together with her cousin to celebrate the joys of life. So how can you and I follow Mary’s example? Let me share with you three key points to help us prepare for the coming of the Christ during this final week of Advent.
1) We need to be aware of the surprises that God gives us. Elizabeth is so surprised and overwhelmed when she sees Mary that she cries out in a loud voice because she makes the connection that her cousin is carrying the Messiah. Do you and I recognize God in our family, friends, and co-workers? How do we react when we encounter God in our daily activities? Do we leap with joy, or do we completely miss Jesus because we’re too consumed with other stuff? If we can recognize the surprises that God gives us, we will encounter God where God is, even in the most unlikely of places.
2) We need to be responsive to the people that God places in our lives. Let’s be honest, this last week before Christmas is insanely busy and stressful, and we often find ourselves becoming short-tempered, worried, and overwhelmed. Mary and Elizabeth had every reason to feel the same way, yet they embraced each other and shared the joy of the miracles taking place within them.
We often forget that being in a family or a friendship is all about sharing joy with each other. We must not let our ‘to do’ lists take us away from the people we love. So, what’s one thing we can do this week to help relieve some of our stress and be more fully present to our family and friends? Take the time to listen to them, speak to them, laugh with them, and maybe even cry with them. If we can do this, we will experience authentic joy.
3) We need to bring Jesus to others. When Mary said “yes” to the angel, she knew she had to share Jesus with the world. We must do the same. Like Mary, each and every one of us is pregnant! Jesus lies within each of us waiting to be born. Therefore, we are called to bring Jesus in whatever way we can to world that needs him now more than ever. How do we do this? By turning our hatred into love and our grievances into forgiveness, by helping the stranger on the street, and by bringing justice to the poor and the oppressed. When Christ is growing inside of us, we will be led to people, places, and situations that truly surprise us. Therefore, we must lose ourselves in the loving service of others.
As we prepare for the birth of Christ in each of us at Christmas, may we ask God to give us strength and wisdom to surrender the need to be in control so we can be open to the surprises that God has planned for us. May we truly be present to the people in our lives; see them, connect with them, and fully embrace them so that we can continue on our journey to God together. Amen!
