From the Pulpit

Excerpts from messages being presented at area places of worship this weekend.

Monsignor James Gilg, St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church

Luke 1:39-45

The account of the Visitation in St. Luke’s Gospel fits well into our experience of the season of Advent and Christmas. We find ourselves coming and going to events and places where we meet our relatives and friends. We touch something very beautiful in our human condition as we extend and accept gracious hospitality to one another.

Mary and Elizabeth in the Gospel go far beyond the mere human aspects of visiting and sharing the news. They are so very much aware of the action of God in their lives and how their coming together is but another expression of His saving grace for them. They have opened themselves, heart and soul and body, for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and they are forever changed. They recognize and celebrate the great things that God has done for them.

It is also important for us to see the presence of God in all of the activities that we embrace during this holy season. God is behind everything of beauty and everything of value. As we rush here and there, we probably do not often consciously remind ourselves that all of the goodness and excitement around us are present because of Christ’s birth, the ultimate gift of God to us.

As we spend some quality time in prayer to God, we might think of the words that Mary and Elizabeth say to one another, and realize how appropriate they might be for us to use as we greet one another in love and joy.

Rabbi Mordechai Levin, Beth El Synagogue, Omaha

During Hanukkah, which has been celebrated this week and concludes today, we commemorate the triumph of our ancestors over the Greek forces that occupied the land of Israel about 2,200 years ago. Hanukkah was the first struggle for religious freedom.

Legend says that when our ancestors defeated the Greeks and were once again able to enter the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, they found only one cruse of undefiled oil with its seal unbroken, to light the candelabra. In it was enough oil to last only a single day, but a miracle happened and it burned eight days.

Let’s consider the legend from a different point of view. Maybe our ancestors were mistaken when they thought there was not enough oil. Perhaps there was enough to last for eight days but they just did not realize it. Maybe this story is about recognizing the value of what we have. Perhaps they were mistaken, just as we are when we look around our homes and think we need more things — because we don’t have enough — when in fact, we have plenty. Maybe they were wrong — as are we — when we don’t value the blessings we have.

From this perspective, the legend’s message may be that sometimes what appears to be insufficient is actually enough if we value it properly and use it wisely.

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