The Minority Report

Gospel: Luke 1: 5-25

In these beginning passages of the Gospels we find the introduction of a theme that runs consistently through these works: it is the idea that the faith of women is the source and foundation, inspiration and nourishment of our faith.  The trusting faith and acceptance of Mary and Elizabeth stands in contrast to the doubt and confusion of the men at the beginning of these stories.  Without the faith of these women we would not have our faith at all.

That fact is emphasized at the end of the Gospels wherein we find women the first to experience and proclaim the resurrection event in the face of doubt and fear that grips the apostles.  Without their faith, the resurrection, the core of our Christian faith, may have been unknown to the world.  And amid the Gospels we find the servant faith of Peter's mother-in-law, the evangelical faith of the Samaritan woman, the faith of Martha and Mary, and so many others who stand in contrast to the Apostles arguing about their power and failing to listen to the Lord Jesus.

This Advent, let us embrace the faith of the women and journey through the narratives and the entire Gospel seeking ways to continually say yes to the Lord, to continually live lives of service and mercy to others.  Then, like Mary, we can bring forth Jesus into the world with our deeds of loving kindness in the world.