21 December
Song of Songs 2:8-14 | Psalm 32(33):2-3,11-12,20-21 | Luke 1:39-45
Today is the only day in the liturgical calendar when the Song of Songs appears in the liturgy. It’s a love poem on the surface, and Michael Card turned it into a 26-year-old contemporary Christian song that occasionally finds its way into Catholic weddings around the world:
But I see a bittersweet connection between today’s reading and Gospel. As Elizabeth exclaims:
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? (Luke 1:43)
so we too exclaim inwardly, and far too often:
Why should I be honoured with a visit from our Lord? I am not worthy! Surely He has better things to do than come to me, a sinner?
Yes, we are not worthy, as the centurion in Matthew 8:8 was willing to admit, but Christ doesn’t care about all that. He comes to us because He loves us and wants us to be united with Him, just as bride and groom come together because they love each other and want to be united in one body.
So why do we keep turning away from Him like a reluctant bride? How much longer will we resist His loving call?
Arise, My love, and come.
The winter of your discontent is gone,
the thunderstorms of life have abated.
Flowers of mercy spring forth from the earth,
birds sing songs of compassion!Why do you still hide in the dark caves of temptation,
in the shadow of sin?Show Me your face,
let Me hear your voice,
for I have loved you from the day you were born,
and I will love you to the end of time.
Amen.
O come, thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flightRejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel