… from you shall come forth for me
        one who is to be ruler… whose origin is from of old,
             from ancient times. (Micah 5:1)

Ancient times! Ancient is sometimes hard to comprehend. Each year we anticipate Christmas. Each year follows a new year. Every year after Christmas we usher in the New Year. Can we even think of ancient times? Our faith journey does not let us forget.

Throughout these past weeks of Advent we recall prophecies of the coming Messiah!
Jesus tells us about following God’s will. Thus says the Christ, as it is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.

Today we find ourselves in the company of two women who heard God’s voice through their own unique experiences and said yes. Elizabeth, elder cousin of Mary, like Sara on in years, (Abraham’s wife of their ancient Hebrew History in Scripture) is pregnant with  a son. We come to know  him as John the Baptist. John prepares the way of Jesus. I like to think that when he jumped in Elizabeth’s womb, he was letting Jesus know he was there and ready to do his part in salvation history. Mary and Elizabeth come together with this sign of affirmation of God’s active presence of fidelity to a covenant desiring an intimate relationship and love. Elizabeth exalts embracing Mary, Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. This oil painting, of the Visitation, 1503, is by Albertinelli, is in the Uffizi, Florence, IT; however I photographed this detail of the painting while on exhibit at the Museo di San Marco, Florence, IT. I was struck deeply and took a sudden breath when I saw this painting. I thought, what profound intimacy of these two, faith-filled pregnant women with the Word of God. O Beauty ever Ancient! O Beauty ever new! (St. Augustine of Hippo)

St. Augustine prayed:

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you... You were within me, but I was not with you…You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You shone and dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew a breath and I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

For Mary and Elizabeth, the breath of God’s fragrance was upon them. With that breath they were pregnant with the will of God to be carried and birthed. O Beauty ever new!

Christmas, a few days away. What signs or experiences have you had that say to you God is a faithful God? In the deep silence and core of your being  listen for God’s Word. How have you embraced a confirmation of that active presence of God within you? Who has confirmed/affirmed that presence? How will you bring to birth Jesus, and put flesh on the WORD that speaks to you?

Ancient history, ancient lands, ancient people, come to life for us anew each year. No longer ancient but present, now, in our time and years to come. Ever present and ever new! Emmanuel, God with US! Each of us play our part in the on-going story adding to the sacred, ancient narratives of a faithful God who saves us, loves us, and embraces us. All we have to do is to desire to hear God’s voice, listen and say YES!

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved!