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Follow Mary’s example of bringing Jesus to Others
Based on Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
The answer was, “Yes!” Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, answered yes to God to become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, and was told her older cousin Elizabeth was also expecting a baby.
In today’s Gospel, we hear about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth during which they share their wonderful news. As Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, she in turn greets Mary with three “blesseds!”
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
What a happy visit – full of joy and praise to God because they’re each going to have a baby. Mary and Elizabeth felt especially blessed knowing they had been chosen by God, and that their children, Jesus and John the Baptist, would be blessed by God in special ways.
How can you follow Mary’s example of bringing Jesus to others? Some examples: Pray for missionaries who bring the Good News of Jesus to others, visit someone who is lonely or sick, read to a younger brother or sister, call, write or visit your grandparents and say “I love you,” offer to help Mom and Dad with chores, donate to your parish’s food pantry, and pray for world peace.
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, all four candles are lit on the Advent wreath. Our time of waiting and readiness for Jesus’ coming will soon be over and burst into the “tidings of great joy” that the angels announced to the shepherds on that first Christmas night, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (Luke 2:11). A Blessed Christmas!
