by Fr. Thomas McQuillen | Homiletic & Pastoral Review
Adoration of the Shepherds by Francois Boucher, ca. 1761-62.
Second Sunday of Advent—December 6, 2015
Readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120615.cfm
Experiencing New Life through Christ’s Coming this Christmas
This coming week, Pope Francis will open the holy door at St. Peter’s basilica and start the Extra-ordinary Jubilee of Mercy. And thus in this extra opened door of the church will be symbolized the hope of the Church. The hope that more people will be able to enter and receive the mercy of God. The hope that more people will be able to come and behold the face of God.
As the Pope states: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” (Misericordiae Vultus, 1) But this season of Advent recalls the events leading up to the birth of Christ, to Christmas. They recall the events before the face of Christ was revealed, and to help us understand the meaning of these events, let us start by recalling the meaning of being born.
Many years ago, before the advent of ultrasound, I had a conversation with a friend who was in her eighth month of pregnancy. As we met, I asked her how she was doing.
She began to talk about how wonderful she felt. This was her second child and she never felt better—there was no morning sickness or drowsiness, indeed her faced radiated. She said that she loved being pregnant, she loved how she felt physically, and she loved the mystery and wonder of it. And here the conversation began to shift.
She then started to talk about the child and related how she and her husband, would marvel about this new life about to come into their lives. Here was a new life, a new member of their family, already so much a part of their lives, already greatly loved, yet they knew so little about this person.
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