waiting with joy, serving with gladness

4th Sunday of Advent Year C
Gospel Lk 1:39-45
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Advent: Waiting with joy, and serving with gladness
On this last day Sunday of Advent before Christmas, Mary takes the lead role in the Gospel episode which narrates her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Both women undergo unusual circumstances which turn into an important account of their love for God, each other, and their children, Jesus the Son of God and John, the one who will prepare for His coming. The angel has appeared both to Zechariah and Mary, announcing to each the birth of a baby. Both children are miracle babies. Elizabeth is too old to have a baby, and Mary is too young- and is also a virgin.
Mary loves and honors Elizabeth who is older and already six months pregnant. Mary who is an unmarried pregnant woman would have ordinarily stayed at home. However, she decides to visit, for she is also with child, and the babe will be not ordinary- He is God Himself. Consequently, even the baby inside Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy, for he is filled with the Holy Spirit and already recognizes Jesus also in the womb. The work of John preparing the way of the Lord starts here.
Now Elizabeth who is so delighted utters praises to God as she expresses honor at Mary’s visit. Though an elder, in a culture that honors older people, she should have received the honor and respect first from Mary.
The baby is the source of Mary’s blessedness. She is to be the mother of the Lord (kurios). “Blessed (makaria) is she who believed” (v. 45). Mary’s belief brings her blessing. The Greek word used for blessed is the same word that is used in the Beatitudes – a word that implies a blessing based on a right relationship with God. Mary believed, in contrast to Zechariah, who did not believe and became mute. During her pregnancy, Elizabeth has been living with Zechariah, who because of his unbelief has been unable to speak. Now she receives Mary, who does believe and is thus able to sing a joyful song.
In all circumstances of life, Jesus is reborn every day
We only need the willingness to respond to God’s call and the openness to do God’s will. Advent Season towards Christmas should inspire us to carry out God’s word as Mary and Jesus did, perfect loving obedience to His will, with sincere kindness and selfless generosity.
Applications:
1. Like Mary who brings Jesus to Elizabeth, this Christmas we bring the joy of serving one another if Jesus is the center of our relationship. Jesus is once again reborn in us and thus enables us to share His love with all whom we encounter. Let us take time to visit others during this Christmas season, especially the sick and shut-ins, to bring some inspiration into their lives, and bring them closer to God.
2. Mary though she was chosen and blessed to be Jesus’ mother, instead of drawing attention to her, she demonstrated a humble responsibility to spend time with the elderly – Elizabeth. This godly virtue should inspire the young generation to take care of their grandparents, parents, teachers, and leaders as themselves would encourage the young ones to value family, relationships, and God.
3. Jesus is always near, always available, and His love is ever new. We need to recognize the Real Presence of the Emmanuel (God is with us) in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible, in the Sacraments, and in the praying community, amongst the poor, the lonely, the sick, and the downtrodden. The hill country of Judea is right here in our surroundings. Let us convey Jesus to people around us by our acts of love, kindness, and forgiveness.
Mary and Elizabeth by Joyce Rupp
Mary and Elizabeth two strong women whose wombs carried two strong men
Mary and Elizabeth two hospitable women with wombs wide, full of grace and conversion
Mary and Elizabeth, two generous women, nurturing nests, embracing seedling life in their bodies’ secret homes
Mary and Elizabeth, two loving women, blessing one another with the grace of affection, the strength of communion
Mary and Elizabeth did they know the dance within their wombs might change a hurting heart, transform a languished life
Mary and Elizabeth, two holy women wombs gestating goodness, sources of nurturing grace yeast for every inner birthing.