What to Expect

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121225.cfm

I remember vividly (OK vaguely but vividly sounds so much more impressive) when my wife and I were expecting our first child, we read (OK, she read, I skimmed) the book "What to expect when you're expecting". It was extremely helpful in navigating the physical and emotional ups and downs of pregnancy. I would like to say that I recall the specific application of some of this wisdom, but my wife reads this, so I'll have to be honest and say that I just remember it being a very helpful and accurate portrayal of the experience. Barb often relayed feeling much of what they described, etc. There was no such book in the time of Mary and Elizabeth, and if there were, it would certainly not contain within it's pages anything that would have guided them through their experience.

The beauty of the encounter captured in today's Gospel is that for each of them, there was finally someone who might have some chance of understanding what they were going through. I can imagine the conversation that ensued after their greeting. It wouldn't have been the slightly tawdry guesswork of trying to remember 'when' the child was conceived. It would likely have been more like 'how the heck' did this even happen? I know that the scriptures capture very little of Mary's reaction other than her fiat and of course the Magnificat, but she certainly still had to be thinking 'wow, what is happening?' But I think there had to also be a certain resolve, strengthened by their 'sisterhood' - a resolve that they were going to do what was being asked. They had to be so strengthened by one another, and their company no doubt gave them great confidence in the plan of God - reflected in the beautiful Canticle of Mary (aka - The Magnificat), and I can hear her speaking these words of encouragement and enlightenment to the only person in the world capable of grasping them at that moment: Elizabeth. "My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." Strong was her confidence in the promise of God through the Angel.

The Bible does not mention Joseph being on this trip with Mary. So there may or may not have been a similar conversation between Joseph and Zechariah. If there was, it was likely to be a little one-sided, since Zechariah was mute until the time of John's birth. When he was born though, Zechariah, a priest, shared a beautiful reflection - a canticle - nine months in the making. The canticle of Zechariah speaks of the beautiful plan of salvation that God had put into motion, and you can almost see Zechariah, holding John in his arms saying "You my child shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sin." Strong was his confidence in the promise of God through the Angel.

These two canticles comprise what to me would be a book entitled: "What to expect when you are expecting a Savior". That is why these two canticles are prayed every day by every Priest, Bishop, Cardinal and the Pope as part of the Liturgy of the Hours. Deacons and Religious Sisters as well as many lay people pray them as part of Morning and Evening Prayer. Zechariah in the morning, Mary in the evening. I encourage you to consider the beauty of joining the united 'prayer of the Church' in the Liturgy of the Hours. Try it from now til Christmas. Pray it instead of reading this (I can't match what's there on my best day anyway). I have included a link to the Liturgy of the Hours and the text of these two beautiful canticles that are at the heart of the Church's prayer in Advent and always.

Liturgy of the Hours

Canticle of Zechariah

Blessed be the Lord,

The God of Israel;

He has come to His people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,

Born of the house of His servant David.

Through His holy prophets He promised of old

That He would save us from our enemies,

From the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

And to remember His holy Covenant.

This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham:

To set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship Him without fear,

Holy and righteous in His sight

All the days of our life.

You, My child shall be called

The prophet of the Most High,

For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,

To give his people knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our Lord

The dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

And the shadow of death,

And to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Canticle of Mary (Magnificat)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour

For He has looked with favour on His lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

The Almighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His Name.

He has mercy on those who fear Him

In every generation.

He has shown the strength of His arm,

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

And has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of His servant Israel

For He has remembered His promise of mercy,

The promise He made to our fathers,

To Abraham and his children forever.