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Fourth Sunday of Advent
Micah 5:1-4A
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
Summary
Today’s gospel recounts a very special meeting between two
blessed women, Elizabeth and Mary, referred to as the
“Visitation”. The significance of their
encounter
has meaningful
spiritual applications for us today.
Reflection
Throughout our daily lives, we are incessantly meeting or
“encountering” others. It may be a passive, insignificant or ordi-
nary encounter. Alternatively, it may be a significant, sincere, or
profound encounter. However, more often than not, our daily
encounters with others may not fill us with a sense of purpose or
call to spiritual action. Why? Because our lives are so incessantly
busy, that we are unable to stop and truly “encounter” others,
and feel their presence, their story, and their spirit. However, this where the Gospel can restore our joy and
love for others, and help us find meaning in each encounter we experience.
The theme of “encounter” is eloquently weaved throughout the Gospel: Jesus and the Samaritan woman;
Jesus and the Man born blind; Jesus and Lazarus, and many other encounters described in the Bible. In each
of these encounters, there is a message of forgiveness, grace, mercy, hope, joy and love. Today’s Gospel
challenges and invites us to encounter Jesus Christ, to bear the fruit that lies within us, to be filled with the
Holy Spirit, and to share that experience with others. Specifically, the meaningful encounter described in
the Gospel between Mary and Elizabeth has profound implications for us.
Prior to Mary’s encounter with Elizabeth, Mary experienced her own encounter. She was visited by the
archangel Gabriel and told that she “found favor with God”, and that she would bear a son named Jesus.
Her initial feeling of fear with this encounter was soon transformed to a feeling of joy and faith,
“Behold, I
am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
What an extraordinary ex-
ample of faith and acceptance of God’s will. Such was Mary’s joy that she could not wait to share her expe-
rience of encounter, that she embarked on a very long journey to visit Elizabeth,
“Mary set out and traveled
to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah… When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in
her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’”
Are we eager to share our faith with others? Do we
travel in haste with the purpose of encountering others as spirit-
filled evangelizers? Do we experience joy in our encounters with
others? May we be filled with their spirit of humility and faith.
May we be moved to encounter Jesus Christ and be filled with
God’s love and Holy Spirit.
In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation,
Evangelii Gaudium (Joy
of the Gospel)
, we are invited and called to “encounter” Jesus
Christ,
“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment,