The two readings for Thursday are genuine message-bearers for all of us in our times. In the seventh chapter of Isaiah we come upon an effort by God to turn the heart of one of the Old Testament's more sinful characters, Ahaz. In the gospel we are presented the words of the Annunciation according to Evangelist Luke.Perhaps Godly Intervention might be considered the theme of these readings. It is clear that everyday life is challenged. We are meeting a disruptive God, even in the angel Gabriel's visit to the young virgin girl, Mary.
Godly interruptions usually are frightful moments for most people ... they have not been planned for nor scheduled. And are you so free that you can accept God moving into your life at a moment's notice? Most, I believe, would find it hard to honestly reply in the affirmative.
Of course we can say that Ahaz and Mary are confronted with a challenge to their "faith." And what is that "faith"? In OT times the understanding of faith had not become as technical as it is today. The prophets' call to faith is an invitation to share in an attitude of confidence based upon God's choice of Israel. This same God has the power to save his people. "Faith" meant an unconditional trust in God. Later on Isaiah writes (28:16) "The believer shall not stumble." The believer places all his/her reliance upon Yahweh.
How many times have you celebrated Christmas? Now a serious question: Has any single reflections on the writings of Isaiah and the Evangelists presented to us during the many Advents you may have been "preparing" to recount the birth of Jesus Christ impacted your life so much that you can remember that moment? I ask that question because in the verse just before the selected verses of the first reading there are these words: "If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all." This is what happened to Ahaz. He challenged Ahaz. He failed. His life was such a disgrace even though God had tried to save him. His reputation was so bad that he was not buried with the royalty of the House of David. He was buried in what we might call the Potters' Field. Mary, on the other hand, experienced a challenge to her faith when the angel told her that God wanted her to be the mother of his son. Despite her fears that must have filled her heart, she uttered her "fiat" ... let it be done.
We might ask or reply: I have never felt God moving me to anything special at this time of the year. There is hardly any time to think about God. Who can hear him with all the excitement of Christmas shopping, parties, family visits and so on? Nonetheless, God is calling you and me each day to listen to him. We must like most of the prophets develop a keen sense of listening. To do that we must take time to listen. Thomas Carlyle wrote these words that might give us pause: "Under all speech that is good for anything there lies a silence that is better. Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as Time."
Let us pray each day ... just start with five minutes ... alone ... perhaps with a line or two from the Bible, from Isaiah ... from the daily reading. There you will find God. There, with practice, you will find the voice of God speaking to you and inviting you to greater understandings about himself and you. It is a dare that many find difficult. But no great people came forth from living an easy life.
