Jesus was an outsider to the religious establishment. The good religious people of his day were the very ones who sought his death because he dared to heal and associate with the “wrong” people.
Jesus put people before policies. Our faith in God leads us to speak with and for those people who the powers of this world have left for dead.
Advent ends with a song, from Mary’s lips to God’s ears. Mary’s song proclaims the hope that God is bringing into the world through her son, Jesus. It is a song filled with anger at the consequences of humanity’s arrogance—anger at the misuse of power by those responsible for the needs of the people and anger at the conspicuous consumption of the wealthy in the presence of the hungry and the poor.
At the same time, it is a courageous song. It is a song that refuses to settle for the world as it is. Full of both anger and courage, Mary’s song is a song of hope.
This message is an excerpt from a December 2009 Cafe faith reflection, “Hope’s Daughters” by Erik Christensen. Today is Christmas Eve. The readings are Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 [15-20].
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