Fourth Sunday of Advent

After the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel left Mary, Saint Luke says that she set out in haste to a town in the hill country of Judah. Mary was in a hurry to fulfill the will of God. Even though God didn’t ask her directly to help her cousin Elizabeth, Mary understood immediately what God wanted her to do, and she didn’t waste time thinking about it. Joseph would have accompanied her, on a trip of three or four days, walking dangerous paths through the mountains, and would have asked her why her sudden change of plans. She couldn’t tell him about her own pregnancy, but she told him that her cousin was expecting. The Fathers of the Church saw in this episode an example of Mary’s entire life: a prompt, joyful obedience, to whatever God asked her. We need to learn from our Mother and be quick to fulfill God’s will. We cannot drag our feet. Once we see what God wants us to do, we should do it.

Another lesson we learn from the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, is her willingness to help others, even though she had to prepare herself for the birth of baby Jesus. She had plenty of excuses to postpone her trip, but knowing that Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, and that she was already in her sixth month, triggered in her a quick reaction. When the Holy Spirit through many different ways, places on our heads the realisation of other people’s needs, we should follow the path of Mary, and be ready to give a hand. We cannot forget that we are happy when we give ourselves to others. We all have problems, but the best way to solve them is focusing on others. Most of our worries are created in our minds and they disappear when we use our talents for the service of others.

Mary brings Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth. She also brings Jesus to us. We are now in a time of waiting anxiously for Christmas, for the birth of Jesus in our soul. Mary fulfills her role of mediatrix, channel of all graces. The closer we are to Mary, the closer we are to Jesus. Having God in our hearts, we can share our faith with others. Mothers experience the blessing of giving birth to a new life for the world. We can also experience spiritual birth when we bring Jesus to others.

When Mary greeted Elizabeth, her baby leapt in her womb. Two babies met in a very strange way, in their mother’s wombs, and they recognised each other. Saint John couldn’t contain his joy and wanted to get out straight away. Six people were witness to this scene: two babies, two mothers, and two fathers, Zachariah and Saint Joseph. Theologians say that John was sanctified in his mother’s womb, in a way baptised by giving witness to who Jesus is. This is why we celebrate his birth. It is not easy to recognise Jesus passing by our lives, sometimes very hidden behind the cross. We ask today Saint John the Baptist to help us, to witness him and to leap with joy at this encounter.

Elizabeth began to praise our Mother full of the Holy Spirit: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” We say these words every time we say a Hail Mary, many times without realising what we are saying. Let us too be witnesses of Jesus in our lives and bring him to others.

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