The Word of God today offers both promises and admonitions (at least in Paul’s letter to the Philippians) to “don’t worry, be happy!” Such advice might feel naïve or even out of touch to some today whose moods are more likely governed by global crisis-headlines and the Dow Jones average. God's Word will often take us deeper and to places we'd rather not go. Curiously, after 2,000 years of proclamation, it’s clear that few really grasp and welcome the Gospel truth today; it’s more likely to be misunderstood – and even misused. Indeed, people who own little more than their faith in God and the hope it brings to their lives seem to be the ones who “get it.” At least they seem always to be the first to hear and respond in faith. No surprise, since, in our scriptures, their ancestors are God’s spokespersons as well as their intended audiences. Prophets accustomed to neither welcome nor appreciation until they “passed on” could honestly shout out things like “Behold, God is my salvation; I will be confident and not fear!” Little, insignificant people like the pregnant teenager, Mary, in jubilant conversation with Elizabeth – her pregnant elder (well-overage!) cousin – could state with prescient joy and authority, “I rejoice in God my savior, because He has shown me such favor, his lowly serving girl – now all generations will called me blessed because the Mighty One has done so much in me…” Why is it that God – at least this God described in Advent -- seems to prefer working from the edges? Once having had a bit of experience outside our comfort zone and attempted to preach to, serve, work with, suffer with … people who actually do live on the edge, we CM missioners will often say at some time or other that “it’s the poor who have evangelized me.” There’s more to this (uncomfortable?) little learning than some one-time-only insight, if we are willing to pay attention and hang in there. As we believers learn to face our shadows and live with endless varieties of “personal” suffering (shame, frustration, unfairness, misunderstanding, persecution…) that come our way, we may be blessed with an expanded soul to (you guessed it!) bear gladly even more, including the sufferings of others. Advent and Christmastide scriptures reveal that mystery for anyone who cares to really listen, to notice, to see. Soon, the manger bound infant, wrapped in rags, invites us into “his” chosen world. It may seem and feel desperate and dark, until we – once identified with that Christchild – find ourselves transformed into light.
