My Advent journey this year has been accompanied, inter alia, by a beautiful book entitled “AN ENCOUNTER: A Daily Discovery in Divine Word.” It was written by Fr. Maurice Nkem Emelu, who is the founder of the Gratia Vobis Ministries and the initiator of this daily reflection via email. The book has 3 volumes already published, and I have all three. I am currently on volume one which contains a form of “daily prayerful walk with the Word of God” for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The second volume is on Lent, while the third volume gives a daily companion for Easter Season. The work provides enough spiritual themes to engage one in one’s prayerful dialogue each day of the season. The reflections help towards a fruitful encounter with God through his Word.
Two Accounts
The Gospel of today narrates an encounter; one with the Divine. It is all about the encounter that Joseph has with God before the birth of Jesus Christ through Mary. Matthew (today’s Gospel) talks about the birth of Jesus from Joseph’s point of view, Luke does it from Mary’s (Lk 1:26ff). Therefore, to have a complete picture of the situation we must overlap the two accounts. From the two narrations, what we have is an encounter with the Divine in two personal accounts.
God’s Methods
In my life, I have experienced moments of special divine encounter. And I believe that almost every believer would have their individual experiences. The truth remains that we encounter God every day in our lives. He speaks to us through different means. He intervenes in our situations, sometimes without us acknowledging it. Christmas is all about an encounter, divinity encounters humanity. In the story of Joseph and Mary, God speaks to a couple; he involves a family. The delicacy with which God addresses each of the future spouses (Joseph and Mary) according to methods and sensitivity particular to each gender is interesting. Mary receives the encounter at home. She reacts to it in her own way. And is reassured by God through the Angel. Hers is a concrete dialogue that opens up to acceptance, just as women do, capable of great concreteness and hospitality. Joseph, on his part, must find a solution to his dilemma and let the heart prevail over the law; he experienced his encounter in a dream.
God Still Speaks
We can see how God reaches us according to our sensitivities using our stories, helping us to overcome resistance and limits. Every one of us needs to find out the best way we communicate with God, especially during difficult moments, towards resolving our doubts or perplexities. For some, it is through prayerful meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, or through dreams (yes, God still communicates through dreams); for others, it can be while taking a walk or doing some manual work, or even under the shower, etc. For you, what is your best way of receiving inspiration to solve some problems you are faced with?
In this last week of preparation for Christmas, let us prepare ourselves more for a deeper encounter with the Word Incarnate. The Emmanuel, God with us.
