Every Advent season the Church re-introduces us to fascinating human beings in the gospels.  We hear the story of the angel Gabriel visiting a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.  We also hear about Mary's relative, Elizabeth, who has conceived a son in her old age.  Elizabeth was married to a priest named Zechariah.  Their son is named John.  We read their stories over and over again in the gospel during these four weeks of Advent.  What can we learn from these different individuals for our spiritual journey?
     Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with ordinary people like you and me who fell totally in love with God.  Sacred Scriptures is the greatest love story of all times.  The genius and beauty of sacred scripture is that the stories told about each individual and their relationship with God is our story, yours and mine, and every person's story in their relationship with God.  Although these stories were written thousands of years ago, they are as new today in 2002 as they were when they were first told.  Like a good detective, we have to dig around and into these peoples' lives to find clues for what is really important in our own lives.
     There is a wonderful fable that describes the lives of the holy men and women of sacred scripture, and all the saints… and maybe one day it will be our story.  The purpose of a fable is to challenge the listener and give instruction.
           Once upon a time, long ago and in a faraway place, a prince was riding through a forest far from
his castle with his soldiers, looking for new lands to conquer.  Suddenly, they came upon a castle    that seemed made of pure gold.
The prince was fascinated by this castle and instructed his troops to ride with him toward the castle.    As they drew near to the castle, the prince saw that a window opened for a moment and a face
appeared and quickly disappeared.  Instantly the prince fell in love.
He knocked at the door.  "Who is there?" Came the voice from within.   "It is I, the Prince.  I am know
for my bravery.  My armies are the strongest.  May I please come in and be with you?"
"There is only room for one in here," was the reply.
The prince left downcast.  He sought advice from a wise woman.  "Perhaps your armies intimidated
her," she advised him.  "Of course," he thought.  He returned to the castle without his troops and
knocked on the door.  "Who is there?"  Came the voice from within.
"It is I, the Prince, all alone," he said gently.
"There is only room for one of us here," came the answer.
The prince left dejected and confused.  He roamed about for several years until he met a renowned
wizard.  "Perhaps she cannot know you with all your weapons and armor," the wizard suggested.
"Of course," replied the prince.
So he returned and laid down his armor, his shield, and his sword.  He walked to the door and knocked.   "Who is there?" asked the voice.
"It is I, your servant.  No soldiers, no title, just a man."
"There is only room for one of us here," came the answer.  For several more years the prince     wandered alone, forsaking his riches and kingdom, thinking only of his beloved.  He sought wisdom   from creation and from within himself. 
Finally he returned to the castle.  He had no armies, no armor, no horse. 
He walked to the castle and knocked on the door.
"Who is there?"  came the voice of his beloved.
The prince took a deep breath, and said, "It is You."
And the door was opened to him.
It's all about God and not me… isn't it?  Mary, Joseph, John, Elizabeth and Zechariah realized that.  The Christian life and the Mass will become much richer for us when we can say, "It is You."

Fr. Bill