Mission Society of the Philippines

Homilies

4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT: MARY VISITS HER RELATIVE ELIZABETH

Lk 1:39-45


THE SCENE IN today’s gospel shows the joy of the two pregnant women, during Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Mary had to take a long and difficult journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth. In that encounter, Elizabeth was all praise for Mary and even the baby in her womb also jumped for joy. Both Mary and Elizabeth have a common understanding of pregnancy as grace and blessing from God. The two women were proud and grateful to God for the gift of child that they carry in their womb.

However, Elizabeth had kept these things quietly though; she was well beyond the age at which ladies usually become mothers. But she and Zechariah, her husband, had longed for a child. Now, Mary was told by the angel of the pregnancy of Elizabeth. She responds right away by travelling to visit her.

When Mary enters Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth’s son in her womb leaps for joy. John the Baptist, from his mother’s womb, prepares the way of Jesus “the Lord”. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and she recognizes that Mary is pregnant with the Son of the Most High. Elizabeth then pronounces Mary to be blessed “among women.”

Mary is blessed because she believes the promises made by God. She freely said “yes” to God when angel Gabriel appeared to her. It is her destiny to be the Mother of God, but it is a destiny she freely chooses.

What can we learn from this visitation-event?

Firstly, we are reminded by Mary and Elizabeth that children are gifts from God. As such, pregnancy must be received with joy. This had been the prevalent idea before. As a consequence, families before had been bigger ones. Unfortunately, this had changed over time. There were governments who control it; and also, the husband and wife themselves control it. Some would even argue that having a child is a burden. And it is sad!

Secondly, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was done out of concern for the latter. Elizabeth was pregnant in her old age, and Mary had to visit and care for her. It is natural response of a charitable young woman. She did it upon learning that an older relative is in need of some help for a while. And Mary saw the urgency. The gospel emphatically describes that Mary “set out and traveled in haste.”

In the same way, helping our relatives or other people is part of our humanity. Because we are just one big human family, we need to help each other. However, the quality of the response to the situation may differ. But if we want to follow the way of Mary, things should be done with urgency. We cannot afford to do it on another day.

The visitation event in the Gospel did not become the second joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary without reason. It has a noble purpose to make us realize that we are social beings, endowed with serious responsibility to improve our interpersonal relationship. Mary and Elizabeth showed us that visiting someone in need is a profound expression of love and joy.

May this season of Christmas be for us an occasion not only to visit our friends and loved ones, but also those people who are lonely and seemingly neglected in the society. AMEN.


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