Our Lady's action helps to arouse in us a greater sense of God's coming, a greater desire for him to come to us. This is exactly what we see in today's Gospel: "As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leaped in her womb.". St. John the Baptist was already fulfilling his mission as forerunner of Christ in the womb of his mother Elizabeth. He was so moved by the presence of Jesus that he jumped for joy. If only that were our reaction.
Some people view Christmas with dread, thinking simply of the extra work it may entail or the tensions that can arise when family members gather. But rather than listening to our fear, we must heed Mary's voice: "As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting...". Only Mary's voice, hearing her speak to us in the depths of our hearts, can awaken us to the presence of God and renew our joy and our expectation of his coming. Mary's faith is contagious: "Blessed is she who has believed...".
Especially in the Rosary, Mary comes to us with joy, bringing us her hidden Son, as she went in haste to visit her elderly cousin with the Child God inside her. "Mary arose and set out in haste."She rises from heavenly glory to come in haste to meet our needs and bring us to Christ. Our supplications and needs impel her to make haste, just as the news of Elizabeth's need - pregnant at an advanced age - impelled her to come quickly to her aid.
But if imitating Mary may seem too high a bar for us, we can at least imitate Elizabeth and learn from her. We hear in Mary's words four beautiful statements that can teach us so much. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she exclaimed with a powerful voice: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Filled with our own spirit of pride and anger, we had better keep quiet. But, filled with the Holy Spirit, we do well to cry out.
Elizabeth, with the insight that God has given her, first of all perceives the greatness of Mary (blessed among women), certainly for her total response to God, but above all for being the Mother of God, for the grace she has received (the fruit of her womb).
She then acknowledged the grace that she herself had received in Mary's visit. ("Who am I?"). Next, he understands Mary's role in inspiring the leap of the child John and, finally, he praises her faith.
Elizabeth can help us appreciate how great is the gift of God coming to us as a child through Mary and how important faith is to receive this gift.
The homily on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Priest Luis Herrera Campo offers his nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
