First reading: Micah 5:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80
Second reading: Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel reading: Luke 1:39-45
"Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb."
The gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent narrates what we know as
the second joyful mystery of the rosary: the Visitation. This
Christian mystery tells the greatness of God's work - how Mary
with the Son of God in her womb, went in haste to Elizabeth, her
cousin, previously childless, but now blessed with a child in
her womb. Mary, knowing that her cousin Elizabeth would need help
in childbirth (because of Elizabeth's age) went in haste to
Elizabeth, despite her being pregnant with Christ, the Messiah.
Upon visiting Elizabeth, Mary was commended well by her cousin:
"Blessed are you who trusted that God's word would be fulfilled."
Many bible commentators would interpret this passage in Luke as
filled with the themes of service, availability, and charity. It
would be remarkable to know that a young Jewish woman would set
our by herself on a journey to a hill country - braving the
dangers of such a journey alone and the risks to her pregnancy,
because of her great spirit of availability, service and charity.
And the great favor and blessing Mary received from God, she now
brings to others: to Elizabeth and her household.
For many of us Catholics who have a devotion to the Mother of God,
we are also blessed and gifted with something unique and singular
in the Christian faith. Contrary to other Christians' perception
of Mary, we know that devotion to her leads us to a greater
devotion to Christ. If we study all the mysteries of the rosary,
from joyful to glorious, we will rediscover why Mary has a
special role in christ's work of redemption. And now that we are
nearing the close of the Advent season, the next important person
in God's salvific plan is a young virgin from Nazareth - whose
immaculate flesh is favored to conceive God's Son in her womb.
Maybe this Christian truth can help us to reflect on the many
ways we have been negligent in keeping our self pure before
receiving Christ in the Eucharist. Also, we can examine if like
Mary, we have shared the blessings of God with others. We can
examine our actions and see if we had made ourselves of more
service to others this Advent season.
