Awaiting that Wondrous Birth

“Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

We find those reassuring words in the First Reading (Is 7: 10-14). Isaiah said these things to king Ahaz, a young and evil king of Judah (731 BC to 715 BC) responsible for introducing idol worship and sacrilege against the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 16; 2 Chron 28). The Prophet wanted to win Ahaz back to the Lord by announcing the coming of a son named Ezekiah, who would save Israel. However, Ahaz despaired of God’s help and, putting his trust in kingly alliances, caused the kingdom’s decline and destruction.

Ahaz’s son Ezekiah became one of Judah’s most blessed kings. He reversed his father’s ungodly policies and restored the kingdom. He is seen as an initial fulfilment of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Isaiah’s words prefigured Jesus Christ, marking the beginning of messianism.

Can there be a clearer sign that Jesus was the One referred to in those words of the Prophet Isaiah? Some versions even translate ‘young woman’ as ‘virgin’. Who other than Jesus can claim virgin birth? What woman other than Mary ever gave birth as a virgin? Was it not clear that this was the Messiah that Israel had long been awaiting?

However, how many Ahazes in our midst and, sadly so, within the Church itself, have facilitated the entry of the “smoke of Satan” through a crack, as a Pope pointed out in the 1960s!

For our part, we have to “let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory,” the Psalm sings. St Paul in the Second Reading (Rom 1: 1-7) says that we are “called to belong to Jesus Christ.” This is an unparalleled privilege and supreme honour, yet how reluctantly we wear the badge! In some countries, atheism reigns; in others, indifferentism (the belief that God is indifferent to religious differences) rules the roost. Soon, such attitudes led to the renouncing of religious symbols in Catholic institutions in the name of “political correctness”. It is another way of saying “God is dead”.

Even in this blessed season of Advent, we find ourselves so engrossed in worldly things that we forego the birth of our Savior! It is disastrous that at Christmas, held with pomp and splendour, Christ is only a pretext for a mundane celebration. Should not the Scripture readings of this liturgical season and the Gospel (Mt 1: 18-24) of today, which dwells on the wondrous Birth of Our Lord, have moved our hearts?

In the context of Jesus’ birth, Mary had already been betrothed to Joseph when she received the divine call to be the Mother of Jesus. In those days, betrothal meant that the pair were husband and wife in all legal and religious aspects, except for actual cohabitation. So, even before they came together, Mary was with child through God’s design.

Thus, Jesus’ birth occurred in accordance with the Isaian prophecy. Yet, it was not without a trace of suspicion; and if we fast-forward to our times, some may be tempted to irreverently think of Mary as an unwed mother. However, it was clearly not so. God, in His infinite wisdom, had provided for Jesus to be born before the couple had come together, to make it clear that He was the “child of the Holy Spirit.” The virgin birth claim would have failed if Jesus had been born after the couple’s cohabitation.

No doubt, Joseph himself had reservations about Mary, who was with child; he even wanted to “quietly send her away.” Eventually, he believed the angel’s words: “Do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” This was so unlike King Ahaz, Jesus’ ancestor from the House of David, who became a victim of his own scepticism.

Thanks to Joseph the Silent Saint and Mary, who conceived without Original Sin, the world is blessed to have the Son of God become man to save us. For sure, the earth never saw anything more wondrous than the birth of Our Lord and Saviour.

Therefore, as we enter the last leg of our Advent journey, let us focus on our internal rather than external joy of anticipation. Let us, like people with clean hands and a pure heart, who desire not worthless things, await the divine event (cf. Ps. 23: 4), and let us wholeheartedly collaborate with God in His plans of salvation.