according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever. Amen
Secrets appear both in the mystery religions of the Roman world and in apocalyptic literature, ancient and recent. You might remember there were several "Secrets of Fatima" which were addressed to the Pope and occasionally revealed by him. The Church insists that these "private revelations" cannot add anything substantial to the "Deposit of Faith;" they can only augment the faith we already know and love.
Secrets are one of several characteristics of apocalyptic religion. Others are the appearance of angels, virgin birth, and signs in the sky. In the ancient world signs in the sky were fairly common. If you're read the Iliad or other Greek literature you remember their reliance on comets, meteors (shooting stars), cloud formations and the flight of birds for everyday predictions. Without meteorologists and their satellites, people have always watched the heavens closely to see what tomorrow might bring.
But the heavens revealed far greater wonders to the Seer of Patmos as he wrote the Book of Revelation. These we will continue to read and interpret until the Second Coming of Christ.
Saint Paul and his apostolic colleagues were keenly aware of "the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested..." through Jesus Christ. They had been shown the key to all the prophetic writings of the Old Testament and eagerly announced it to anyone who would listen.
In today's gospel we hear of two women -- Mary and Elizabeth -- who celebrate the great secret that has been revealed only to them. The elder is pregnant with the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist; the younger is pregnant with the Lord.
How fascinating that
None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (I Corinthians 2:8)Obviously, as our leaders struggle with a world-wide recession, they still know so little.The secret hides beneath their radar. It remains for us to announce our confidence in God to bring us through this financial/spiritual crisis.
The world around us -- especially the media -- has many ways to observe Christmas. One of them will appear this week, an annual series of editorials decrying the plight of the poor who "cannot celebrate Christmas" because they have no money to spend on gifts.
I remember visiting an elderly woman in Louisiana who had only one Christmas decoration, the card I had sent her. I'm sure she would be insulted by such a preposterous statement, had she been able to read the newspapers she could not afford. That home-bound, illiterate woman celebrated Christmas quietly, with more joy than most people in her neighborhood. She welcomed the sacraments of priesthood and Eucharist with all the hospitality Elizabeth showed to Mary.
Let's enjoy Christmas this year amid our concerns about the economy. But let us not insult the poor with our commiserating pity. Rather let us share their joy that the Savior of the World has been born among the poorest of the poor -- and revealed his secret to humble shepherds, impoverished elders, and homeless children.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.