I am 76 years-old and I am just starting to get THE message. God, the Holy One, Being itself to, comes us disguised as our life. It should be easy then to accept what is happening to us and get on with life; however, we want life to go our way notwithstanding the fact that the Holy One’s ways are not always our ways. We do not want to accept life and we are often fearful of what is coming our way.

Enter the Christmas story, not the story of Christmas plays where the symbolic becomes factual. It is about Mary’s encounter with life. Her life has taken a dramatic turn. She is afraid. She is an unmarried teen in a rural hinterland. The Law makes her subject to stoning by death. The Holy One, disguised as the angel Gabriel, comes to Mary. The first message is, “Do not be afraid.” In other words, you can trust the Holy One to bring you into greater union. After some discourse, Mary finally understands, “Let it be done to me according to our word.” The Christ is born. The life she brings forth will enter into full union with the Holy One in his final moments on the cross, “Abba, into your hands I comment my spirit.” Life then is surrender, surrender to the Holy One as we are brought into deeper union with Being itself.

The light bulb has gone off. On my six month visit to the doctor last week, he pointed out that my hemoglobin count was just below the lower limit. He wants me to see a gastroenterologist to see whether I am leaking blood anywhere. Life was coming at me. I was fearful. A colonoscopy is not a fun activity. Then, too there might be a hidden problem. As I read about the visit of Gabriel to Mary, I understood. “Be not afraid.” “Be it done unto me.” “Into Your hands, Holy One, I turn my life over.” I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist next month. I am mindful that all things work for good for those who trust in the Holy One. I can go on enjoying life without fear. I can surrender to life because the Christ is bringing all things into fuller union with the Holy One, with Being itself.