On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, when Christmas falls on a Monday, we have the shortest Advent possible. This year, the Fourth Sunday of Advent coincides with Christmas Eve. Parish staff are faced with the challenge of quickly transitioning from Advent purple to Christmas decorations and are bombarded with questions about the significance of the Christmas Eve vigil Mass. However, this unique situation also presents an opportunity for us to stay in the Advent spirit for a little longer, even if only for a few hours on Sunday.
The Gospel reading takes us back to the Annunciation with Mary, while the first reading focuses on David’s plans to build a house for God. Instead, God promises to establish a house for David himself, a legacy that will endure forever. This juxtaposition of readings brings to mind the image of Mary as the “ark of the new covenant,” through whom God dwells with his people in human form.
However, this year, these readings draw our attention to the Holy Land and the suffering in Israel and Gaza. Hostages are still separated from their families, and innocent lives are being lost in the violence of war. As we deepen our longing for the fulfillment of God’s promises during Advent, we are faced with the question of what to do with this reading and our yearning for peace in a seemingly impossible situation.
I must admit that I don’t have an answer to this question. But I can share how my own longing for peace has been intensified, even painfully so, during this Advent season. I have found examples of this through the content of America magazine that I have been engaging with.
In early December, our Jesuitical podcast featured an interview with Rachel Goldberg, whose son was taken hostage by Hamas. She spoke about how she maintains her Jewish faith and remains in conversation with God amidst her pain and confusion as she works and prays for her son’s safe return. The following week, Jesuitical spoke with Stephanie Saldaña, who lives in Bethlehem and shared her experience of preparing for Christmas in a Palestinian community overshadowed by war. And just recently, we published a piece from Rami Aljelda, a staff member with Catholic Relief Services, who is sheltering with his family in Gaza amidst the bombings.
Rami describes his longing for peace as a dream of a safe place where conflicts do not exist, and where people can build their lives and dreams. This longing resonates deeply with me.
As we conclude, I suggest a way to pray with this longing for peace. One of my favorite Advent hymns is “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming.” In a recent episode of our Hark! podcast, the composer J.J. Wright expressed his love for the hymn and how it conveys a sense of longing for God. This hymn holds open a hope, along with Mary, that the rose is always blooming, even when the night seems dark. God’s promise is still being fulfilled.
Stephanie Saldaña, writing from Bethlehem, quotes her young daughter who wonders if Christmas can stop the war. God is always coming to dwell with us and calling us to dwell with each other in peace. May our longing for God’s peace deepen, and may it soften our hearts to seek peace together.