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WILL WE IMITATE ELIZABETH AND JOYFULLY WELCOME JESUS?

(A biblical refection on the FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [Year C] – 23 December 2012)

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45

First Reading: Mic 5:1-4; Psalms: Ps 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Second Reading: Heb 10:5-10

The Scripture Text

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1:39-45 RSV)

We are all familiar with the scene that Luke paints: “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb” (Lk 1:41). Generations of artists have attempted to capture this visitation, seeking to convey the overwhelming, joyful hope evoked when Elizabeth voiced humanity’s ageless cry to the Virgin: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk 1:42).

At this very important meeting, law gives way to promise, ancient prophecy meets divine fulfillment, and the old bows to the new. Barren Elizabeth, incapable of producing life, was loved and blessed by God. And, loving Him in return, she lived in anticipation, ever open to the Life-Giver. Hence, she was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk 1:41) and recognized Mary as the vessel of God’s salvation. Not with bitterness or envy, but with rejoicing, she acceded the higher place to Mary, “the mother of my Lord” (Lk 1:43). Content to be eclipsed, like the shadow of the old covenant by the good things of the new, she blessed Mary and all people of faith: “Blessed is she who believed ……what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Lk 1:45).

The quiet, youthful Mary went to the aging, faithful Elizabeth to share the new thing God had done. Her arrival affirmed the prayerful vigilance of YHWH’s faithful servants. In coming to celebrate her cousin’s good fortune, she brought grace and abounding joy. Mary humbly accepted the honor given to her by Elizabeth and turned it immediately to the Lord whom her soul magnified.

Every Advent, we are invited to witness this dramatic moment. We come with the wounds and sins of a long year. Will we refrain from embracing the new, afraid of disappointment and frustration? Or will we imitate Elizabeth and joyfully welcome the Savior Jesus who has come among us?

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, we lay down all of our fear and sorrow and sin. We welcome the new life you have to offer us. “Restore us, O God; let Thy face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:3). Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

ONE DAY IN AIN KARIM: SHE CAME TO SERVE

(A biblical refection on the FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C) – 23 December 2012)

First Reading: Mic 5:1-4; Psalms: Ps 80:4-5,15-16,18-19; Second Reading: Heb 10:5-10; Gospel Reading: Lk 1:39-45

A man told me once that he stopped sending Christmas cards, going to holiday parties, and buying gifts. It was becoming too expensive and didn’t make sense anymore. We can all appreciate this feeling, when we’re stuck in pre-holiday mall traffic, or are crowding to the checkout counters and see the cash register totalling up large figures. But the expenses and inconveniences are soon forgotten in the hope of making someone happy with a gift purchased just for them.

Gift giving, card sending and visits are obviously things we don’t have to do. But these kind and thoughtful deeds strengthen our ties of family and friendship. The Scrooges may seen to be more happy since they don’t spend money on others or try to be friendly, but most likely they’re very sad and lonely people. The tragedy is that this is their own doing. They don’t realize that there’s more joy in giving than receiving.

We have an excellent example of the true spirit of Christmas in today’s Gospel, in the kindly deed of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She, being pregnant, could have easily chosen not to visit her cousin Elizabeth. But precisely because she was pregnant with Jesus, she could not remain aloof.

It was “with haste” that she climbed the long steep hill to her cousin’s home in Ain Karim, to willingly assist her. Her greeting was so divinely inspired and powerful, that it moved Elizabeth to spontaneous prayer and uplifted the spirit of her unborn child John.

When we visit friends and family we should carry with us that same joy-filled attitude, which in itself is a tremendous gift to offer another. Using Mary as our model, we might try to worry less about being entertained and concentrate more on helping and uplifting. Jesus told the world that He came to serve, not be served. I wonder if He learned that from His mother.

Happiness can be found in the most unusual places. Mary discovered it in the hill country, in the stable and even in exile, for Jesus was with her. Since He promised to be with us, our finest gift to others is to live and give His love.

Note: Taken from Fr. Jame McKarns, GO TELL EVERYONE, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1985, pages 194-195.