"Christ is Coming" - 4th Sunday of Advent Homily by Deacon Ted

The author of today's Gospel, St.

Luke, is the vivid storyteller.

He can, in his words, describe things and you can see them and you can feel them.

He puts the words together in such a way as to almost be a movie that flows through our mind as you're hearing them.

Let me take the opportunity to try to paint a picture, if you will, of today's Gospel and the events leading up to it.

Think of it as a holy picture, a triptych.

You got one panel here, one panel here, and a big panel in the middle.

And in the panel on the right you have a picture of Zechariah at the incense table in the temple.

Smoke going forth and an angel standing there looking at him.

On this panel on the left, you have Mary sitting alone and then an angel, sometimes with light, standing there and talking to her and says, don't be afraid.

And those two panels tell stories, but they're the prelude to what happens in the middle.

In the middle, Mary and Elizabeth meet.

Jesus and John meet the Holy Spirit comes down upon them and angels fill the room And you never hear about Zachariah, but I he's off in the corner doing a little jig

Because of the joy, the glory, this is the first manifestation of God's glory in public.

Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, the angels, they're all sharing in this moment when Jesus

gives John the mission and John comes to life in Elizabeth's womb.

When Jesus said to him, are my precursor, come.

Come alive and grow, be with me.

Can you imagine the joy?

Can you imagine the love?

Of course you can.

You know why?

Because it's Christmas.

And you're anticipating what's going to happen at Christmas.

Now want you to think about this just for a moment.

You might have that favorite aunt or uncle that you never see, but they come at Christmas time.

And when they walk in the door, you're just so happy to see them.

You embrace them.

You hug their neck.

And you're filled with joy.

Or if you're of the older generation, you may have that favorite grandchild you don't see enough.

Maybe they live in another state and they have to travel to be there.

And when they walk in the door, you want to pick them up, you want to hug them, you want to love them.

That joy is minuscule compared to what happened between Mary and Elizabeth in this picture.

but it gives you a feeling of what it was like.

You know, it starts out with, Mary went in haste.

Why would she go in haste?

because she just became a servant of God.

She admits it to herself, to the angel.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

Be it done to me according to your word.

I am your servant, God.

And God's first task to her is, not directed, but implied, Elizabeth is with child.

And so Mary says, that's it.

I've got to go to Elizabeth.

I have to serve God.

That's how God wants me to do it.

to be a servant.

Could be like the angels.

They could be messengers that come and bring God's word to people and give direction.

Or they could be your guardian angel who's with you all the time.

Who's there to give you that little nudge when you need it.

Or to whisper into your ear, good work.

We don't think about our guardian angels often, but I suggest to you today, think about them, pray to them.

They are real.

They are there.

And I'll give you this example.

Santa Claus!

Santa Claus happens once a year and then you forget about him in between and then you remember him again next Christmas, right?

Your guardian angel may have a role in something in your life and you feel it and you know it but then Life is so busy.

You don't think about him But the difference is your guardian angel is always there.

He is the servant of God

sent with a mission.

The mission is to care for you.

Each and every one of you have a personal guardian angel.

And what is your mission?

Your mission could be a vocation of motherhood.

It could be a vocation of service to others.

Whatever your mission is, God gave it to you.

And your guardian angel is there to help you to execute it.

And I'm about to suggest to you that you have another mission.

One that you probably haven't thought of or maybe 113 of you have.

And that is to sign up for adoration in our adoration chapel.

Now think about this.

Think about what I've talked about.

Think about the angels.

Think about being God's messenger.

Think about you being the servant of the Lord.

And what is your mission?

Your mission, given to you at baptism, is to praise and worship God.

And what better way to do that is to spend time in solace, adoring our God.

why he is present to you.

So, on your way out of the church I want you to do two things.

One, I'd like you to go to the sign and take a picture and sign up.

You can use the barcode on the bottom.

But the other thing I ask that you do today, love somebody.

Give them a hug, a smile, something.

Share your joy with someone else.

You know why?

It's Christmas and Christ is coming.