2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Luke 1:26-38
Is today the Fourth Sunday of Advent or is it Christmas Eve? Was David a shepherd or was he a king? Is Mary a virgin or is she a mother? Today, it appears as if we are being called to live in the “both/and.” It is, indeed, both the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. David was, indeed, both a shepherd and commander of Israel. Mary was, indeed, both a virgin and a woman who conceived and bore a son.
The life and ministry of Blessed Pauline offer many “both/and” incidents. Recall examples in which Mother Pauline was both a servant and a leader. Think of how she could both reprimand a Sister and continue to show her maternal love and patience. Remember that, during the
Kulturkampf, she both closed multiple foundations in Europe and opened twice as many in the Americas.
Additionally, Mother Pauline was grateful for both joys and sorrows. In 1857, she prayed, “Continue, O God, to watch over us in your loving Providence. To you be praise for every struggle, every affliction, which you send us, as well as for every joy; for both sorrows as well as joys come from your loving, paternal heart. Both are destined for our salvation.”
As we leave the Advent season and enter the Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, both God and human, both Savior and poor child born in a manger. During this season, let us pray for the grace to celebrate the “both/and” of our lives as destined for our salvation – both sickness and health, both joy and sorrow, both good and bad.
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