Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Christmas is almost here and I encourage you to spend some time in front of the manger now and during Christmas to contemplate what the Lord has done for us. He could have come to save us as an adult but he became a defenseless child and was born in poverty for you and for me. He speaks to us through this event so reflect somewhat on it.
It has been a very busy time for me with the church renovation and also with the Neocatechumenal catechesis that just ended last week in a weekend retreat, which was really wonderful. I wish that all of you would make it one year. Saturday was spent on the Eucharist, especially learning about its roots from the Passover celebration Jesus had the night before he died. And then tracing what happened in the early Church until now. It was especially appropriate to do this during Advent which as you know is a time of waiting. In the Passover the Jews still wait for the Messiah.
Mary went to visit (Luke 1: 39-45) and help Elizabeth with haste or the word can also mean she went thoughtfully. She went with a set purpose and full of joy for her cousin who was fifty years old or older. The journey of several days was a dangerous one, as all journeys were at that time. It was courageous for Mary to visit Elizabeth. Mary is a believer in contrast to Zechariah who doesn’t believe that his wife will bear a son, and is stuck dumb.
Mary greets first. She doesn’t wait for Elizabeth to speak. She is humble, and gives way to her cousin. Mary is ready to travel, to greet first, to go out of her way and not to stand on ceremony, especially now that she is the mother of the Messiah. Those who are not ready to greet first, or call first, or visit first are proud. So they wait forever for others to come to them. Blessed are you Mary who believed in the promise made to you because it has been fulfilled.
This same promise is being made to us: the Savior wants to be born in you! What must I do? Make room for him. Clean up your soul a bit; confess your sins, reconcile with those you judged, go visit someone you think should come to see you.
The humility and simplicity of Elizabeth is also touching. How does she know that Mary is expecting the Messiah? The early Church fathers said that Elizabeth was a prophetess—she prophesied that Mary was the Mother of God before anyone told her. Elizabeth is in wonder that the “mother of my Lord should come to me.” She realizes that she should go to Mary, that the lesser one should serve the greater one. Her son, John the Baptist, in the womb also recognizes the presence of the Messiah and leaps for joy. You and I should do the same!
May you and all your family and loved ones have a Blessed Christmas!!