Song of Songs 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45
Reflection by Sister Linda Bittner
Instructional Assistant, Ferdinand Elementary School, Ferdinand, Indiana
“Arise my beautiful one and come. The winter is past – the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, . . .” Songs 2:10-12
This reading reminds us that the time is right to rejoice in the coming of new life, to see things in their renewed beauty – the rain has ceased and flowers bloom. It is also a time to let go of that which distracts us from living fully and allows conversion to envelop our being and outlook – the time of pruning the vines has come.
Springtime, the setting in Songs, is also when Mary receives the announcement of Gabriel which transforms her life and the life of the world. Upon hearing of her cousin being with child, Mary goes in haste to be present to Elizabeth, who in turn affirms the God-mystery dwelling within her – “The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.” Mary’s awareness of her special role of Christ-bearer unfolds and is more fully revealed as she listens within, to others, to life circumstances, and attends to the dailiness of her existence – being pruned so that new life may grow. Aren’t we also called to do the same – to be present to our daily reality and take the opportunities provided us to birth Christ among us? Let us take these waning days of Advent to listen, to grow in awareness of what needs pruning, that we, like Mary, may be Christ-bearers for others.
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