Mary, a woman of action sharing the joy of Jesus: Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent

 On this final Sunday of Advent, the Church provides a Marian lens for us to view Christ’s coming to us as a little baby at Christmas.    In today’s Gospel we hear of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.   We are told that Mary travels in haste through the hill country.   We often think of Mary being passive, humbly pondering in contemplation.   But today she is a woman of action, traveling to share her cousin’s joy of finally conceiving a child as was told to her by the Angel Gabriel.  Elizabeth’s pregnancy was a sign of the impossible becoming possible.    Mary went in haste as she cannot wait to rejoice with Elizabeth and to share her joy of bearing God’s son.   

 

We don’t have a lot of details on Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth in the Bible.  A commentary I read speculated it was about four days through difficult terrain.  This would be a dangerous journey for young woman, traveling alone.  Some scholars think Mary may have traveled in a caravan or possibly Joseph accompanied her.  She may have gone alone, feeling she was protected because of the holy child she bore within her would fend off evil.

 

To try to get a sense of Mary’s journey and the encounter with Elizabeth, I decided to pray over some artistic renditions of the Visitation.   Joseph Robusti Tintoretto, a 16^th century artist,  paintings depict Mary processing through

treacherous terrain looking up to Elizabeth, head encircled in a halo, humbly bowing, and clutching her chest, as she climbs roughhewn stone steps to meet Elizabeth.  The scene depicts Elizabeth, halo also encircling her head, bending down to Mary with arms open wide to embrace her.   Both Joseph and Zechariah are off to the sides in the background.   In a later Tintoretto painting Elizabeth

lovingly embraces Mary as she stumbles forward into her arms after a long journey.   Another 16^th century artist,  Jaccopo Pontomo, captures the younger Mary’s bright eyes looking intently at the much older and worn face of Elizabeth, as they embrace and share their miracles with each other.  Elizabeth’s face is visibly brighter, reflecting a glow radiating from Mary who is carrying God’s son in her womb. This scene captures the humble wonder

of Elizabeth who proclaims, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me.”  If you would like to view these images, I will post them on my blog.  I would encourage to you to view them and prayerfully imagine Mary and Elizabeth’s encounter.  

 

Mary truly desired to personally encounter Elizabeth to share in her joy. She actively journeys to be with her, and both Elizabeth and her infant, respond to the presence of Jesus within her.  Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb in hearing Mary’s voice and filled with Holy Spirit, she proclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”.   These words uttered by Elizabeth are the scriptural basis of the Hail Mary prayer.    If you’re ever challenged by someone for praying this prayer, remember it is based on Elizabeth’s praise of Mary in Luke’s Gospel for carrying God’s son within her.  In praising Mary, she is praising Jesus.

 

This Christmas many of us will be traveling on a journey, like Mary, to visit family and friends.   The journey may be difficult with travel delays and traffic jams.  Some of us may have encountered a challenging personal journey over the past year since we have visited our loved ones.   We may have had illnesses, losses, and disappointments.  Maybe we didn’t experience any challenges, but our loved ones we visit may have.  As we visit, be aware of the journey that each of us have been on the past year, and that the joy of Jesus is needed in this world to help us through these challenging journeys.

 

Let’s keep in mind the joy of Elizabeth and Mary, that our Lord has come to be with us, as a humble little baby. He chose to enter humanity amid our trials and challenges to save us, not for what we have or have not done, but out of his love for each of us.  He can turn the impossible into the possible if we put our faith in him.   Please share the joy of Jesus like Mary did with Elizabeth with those you love.

 

Jesus came into the world at a distinct time in history, which is why we celebrate Christmas each year.  But keep in mind, he also continues to be with us in the presence of the Eucharist, which we will soon receive.   When we are filled with the Eucharist, made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will carry Jesus in our own bodies, just like Mary did.   When we receive him, prayerfully contemplate in the wonder that the Lord is truly in each of us. May our hearts leap for joy like John the Baptist did in Elizabeth’s womb at the Lord’s presence.  As we visit with the family and friends this holiday season, let’s remember to share the joy of why we are celebrating Christmas, that God has truly come to be with us as a humble little baby, and invite them to share in this joy through our faith in Jesus as our Lord and savior. 

 

 

When you see the signs, be joyful for your redemption is at hand! 1st Sunday of Advent, Cycle 3 - 11/28/2021

            Happy New Year!   We are beginning a new year in the Church.   We just lit the first purple Advent Candle.   The priest and deacon are now wearing purple vestments.  These are signs of the Lord’s coming.     

We are of course anticipating Jesus’ arrival as a little baby, but early in Advent we focus on the Lord’s second coming at the final judgment.    

            In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks of signs.  He references the sky:  the sun, moon, and stars that the people of His time relied on for guidance in their travels.   If these changed the people of the time would be lost.  These were their GPS.  He also spoke of nations in 

distress and being perplexed by the roaring of seas and the waves. These were disorienting situations where control and order was lost. The is a world in chaos and people are in fear anticipating what is coming next.    They don’t know what to rely on because the signs they trusted are passing away.

            People today like to reference these signs of uncertainty to predict the coming of the end times.   When they see these signs of chaos in the world they predict the end is coming causing people to be afraid.  But throughout history there have been many of these signs that have come and gone.   Nobody knows the day or the hour when the Lord will come again.  So what are we to do?  

            Jesus tells us, “When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”  By living as faithful Christians, loving God and neighbor, we look forward to the coming of the Lord, because we have the hope that the justice of the Lord will be ours.   Our hope is that He will find us worthy to join him in His heavenly Kingdom.  

            In order for us to anticipate His coming we need to stay awake.    Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be drowsy from carousing, drunkenness, and anxieties of daily life.    When we are focused on these things we’re focused on ourself and not loving God or others.    We know the Lord will come again, but we don’t know exactly when.   To be ready we can listen the Lord’s advice: “be vigilant and pray for the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”   We need to always be ready to meet the Lord when he comes again.  Saint Paul offers us some insight on how to do this, to grow in love.   He tells us, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, and be blameless in holiness before our God and Father.”  

This is possible by conducting ourselves to please God, showing our love for Him and our neighbor, walking in the Way of the Lord.

 

            There have definitely been signs in our faith community showing this love for one another.   The hundreds of people in need that showed up for the Thanksgiving food distribution last weekend.  The thousands of items donated and service to the Thanksgiving food distribution, food pantry, Christmas store, Pro-vida toy drive, and Gabriel project baby showers over the past year.  The many volunteers who prepared and served food at funeral meals throughout the year.  The hundreds of visits by Eucharistic ministers to bringing the life giving food of Jesus in Communion to the sick and homebound.  The numerous volunteers and teachers of the faith in RCIA, religious education, school and athletic ministries. There are of course countless signs seen only by the Lord himself in acts of love serving others in the name of Jesus.

            So as the New Year in the Church begins, it’s a good time to reflect on spiritual resolutions to work on so we can grow in love and be ready when the Lord comes again. Try to find some quiet time to pray for the strength to grow in love and listen to the Lord of any changes He’s calling you to.  By striving to live a life of loving of God and neighbor we can be ready to stand erect and raise our heads with joy when the Lord comes again.