Thoughts on This Sunday's Readings

      I've been looking at this coming Sunday's readings for Mass, and something has struck me enough to finally write a post reflecting on them.

    What struck me is the juxtaposition of Ahaz in the first reading from Isaiah to Joseph in the gospel according to Matthew. Some context might help this be more apparent.

     Ahaz was King of Judah, and was beginning to feel the pressure of being between two growing superpower nations, Egypt and Assyria. Israel and Judah were centers of trade and commerce, so they were actually quite wealthy. Think of it this way, any trade activity, whether it was from North to South (Assyria to Egypt and back again) or from West to East (the Arab world to the Helenized world and back again) would have passed through Israel and Judah at some point. King Ahaz feared Egypt and their intentions, and so had decided to make an alliance with Assyria.

     The alliance, however, would have subjugated Judah to Assyria, making Judah a vassal nation. Judah would have had to pay dues and taxes to Assyria, and in return Assyria would offer its protection from Egypt.

     The problem, however, is that God did not want His nation to be subject to anyone but Himself. God did not want Ahaz putting his faith in any superpower but the Power of the God of the Hosts. Isaiah the prophet comes to Ahaz and tells him this, and says that God wants Ahaz to ask for a sign as proof that the Lord is willing to protect His people, "Ask for anything," Isaiah says, "Let it be deep as the netherworld or high as the sky!"

     At first glance, Ahaz's response seems to be a good one, "I will not ask. I will not tempt the Lord." We all know that we're not supposed "to tempt the Lord." I mean, even Jesus said this, right. The reason, though, that Ahaz did not want to tempt the Lord, is because he had already made up his mind about what he wanted to do, and didn't want a sign that would cause him to change his mind. He didn't care anymore about what God wanted.

     It reminds me of that Simpson's episode where Homer goes to prayer about something. I don't remember what, but basically he tells God what he wants, and then says if it's ok, that God should give him "no sign whatsoever." Homer waits about 2 seconds, and then says, "Thy will be done." Then he offers God a plate of cookies as a thanksgiving sacrifice and says, "If you want me to eat them for you, give me no sign whatsover." Again, he waits about 2 seconds, and ends his prayer with, "Thy will be done." He scarfs the cookies.

     Ahaz didn't want to know God's will. He didn't want a sign that would make him change his mind from what he had already decided to do. Then, in the gospel, we get Joseph.

    Jewish law stated that Joseph had the right to have Mary stoned to death, because she was pregnant with a child that was not his prior to their wedding date. Joseph, however, did not want Mary to die, so he made up his mind to go through with the marriage, and then divorce her quietly. That way, people would think the child she carried was his, conceived on the wedding night. Her life would be spared.

     The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and confirmed what Mary had told him, that the child she carried was in fact conceived of the Holy Spirit, and that Mary remained pure. Unlike Ahaz, Joseph was not so set in his ways that he would not consider the will of God. Joseph changed his mind, and obeyed.

     This message of the need for obedience is repeated in the 2nd reading. Paul describes himself as "a slave of Jesus Christ," which brings the images of an obedient servant. Paul also says that his mission as an apostle is to bring us, the Church of Christ, into "the obedience of the faith."

    The message of obedience to the will of God is a wonderful Christmas message. Zachariah and Elizabeth obeyed God, and John the Baptist was born and named. Mary obeyed God, and Jesus was conceived. Joseph obeyed God, and provided Mary and Jesus with a home. Even Jesus's incarnation was an act of obedience "in fulfillment of scriptures."

     The bottom line is that we are called to obey, too. I don't mean in some non-committal way that tries to explain away the harder things we may be called to do. "Obedience means to listen." That's true etymologically, but just listening to God is not enough. My kids listen to me all the time, and occasionally, they actually turn off the Wii or the DVD and DO WHAT I ASK THEM TO DO. We are called to obey the will of God, in heart, mind and action. We are called to do what God asks us to do.

     "But how do we know what God is asking us to do?" Well, I'm glad you asked.

     The first answer is through the Church, and more specifically, through the office of the Successors of the Apostles, the Bishops. We may not like them, shoot, we might have outright disdain for some of them, but they are the Bishops, the Successors of the Apostles, who have been given Authority by Jesus Christ himself to help us discern the will of God. If we're not listening and acting on the teachings of the Apostolic Office, we're not obeying Jesus. Jesus said to the Apostles, "Whoever hears you, hears me." That authority has been passed down for 2,000 years now.

     The second answer is through personal prayer. God wants to speak to you, just as He spoke to Ahaz through Isaiah, and just as He spoke to Joseph in a dream. God wants to make His will known to you in your heart. In order to do that, we must return to the etymological definition of obedience, "to hear." We must spend time listening to God in prayer. God wants to speak to our very hearts. The only time I find myself loathe to listen is when I am more like Ahaz than Joseph.

     I know this, though: the times in my life when I have listened most closely and acted on the promptings of God that I feel stir in my heart, I have known only peace, strength, goodness in my life. The times when I have been headstrong, not listening to God, are the times that I have hurt those around me, and deeply hurt them.

     Advent is a wonderful time for listening. Even in all the hussle and bussle of Christmas time preparations, the earth seems to be a little quieter this time of year. But don't "just listen," do the will of God. I promise you that whatever He has in store for you is more wonderful than anything you could plan for yourself.