The liturgy of this Fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on the figure of Mary, the Virgin Mother, expecting the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. What were her thoughts in the months while she was expecting? The answer comes precisely from today’s Gospel: the narrative of Mary’s visit to her elderly relative Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1:39-45).
This episode helps us interpret the mystery of man’s encounter with God that is not characterised by astonishing miracles but rather by faith and charity. Indeed, Mary is blessed because she believed: the encounter with God is the fruit of faith.
Without faith, one remains inevitably deaf to the consoling voice of God and incapable of speaking words of consolation and hope to our brothers and sisters. That explains the meaning of Zachariah turning dumb because he doubted the message of the angel – how could he be speaking of the message of God’s consolation?
Pope Francis gives the example of “People who have no faith, when they have to approach a person who is suffering, they speak words suited to the occasion, but they do not manage to touch their hearts. On the other hand, a person of faith is capable of touching the lives and hearts of those in distress because they are, in the first place, nourished by charity.
The visit of our Lady to Elizabeth is not just an encounter between two people but also an encounter between God and his people. A person of faith is capable of touching the hearts of people because their faith allows them to connect and experience their God.
The Spirit teaches us to look beyond appearances and enables us to speak well of others – to bless them. This virtue of looking beyond is especially true concerning our less fortunate brothers and sisters. They are the homeless, those exposed to the rough world, lacking perhaps not only a roof over their head or a piece of bread, but also lack the friendship and warmth of a community to embrace, a shelter to protect them and a society that accepts them.
As she journeys to visit Elizabeth, Mary reminds us where God desired to dwell and live, where his sanctuary is: it is in the midst of His people. There he is, amongst the people he lives, amongst them he awaits us.
We can apply to ourselves the prophet’s call of not to fear, not to let our arms grow weak! For the Lord our God is in our midst; he is a mighty saviour (cf. Zeph 3:16-17), and he is in the midst of his people. This is the secret of every Christian: God is in our midst as a mighty saviour. Our certainty of this enables us, like Mary, to sing and rejoice with joy.
For your reflection:
Mary is the first to realise the wonders worked by the Lord and to sing them. People look towards those who can bring them some help, but God turns his eyes on those who count for nothing, despised, unproductive, and in painful conditions.
Father Fernando Torres CMF
www.ciudadredonda.org
Translated by
Father Alberto Rossa CMF
