Fourth Sunday of Advent

From the Word of the Day

 

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you

 by the Lord would be fulfilled.

                                      Luke 1: 45

How should we live this Word

 Today Mary is the radiant woman of faith!  In faith, She was able to grasp and receive God’s will, pronouncing her unconditional ‘yes’ to God’s plan for her and for humanity.  The Fathers of the Church liked to connect Mary with the ancient Ark of the Covenant where God dwelled in glory in the midst of the people.  In fact, now Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, the beloved of God, chosen to become the dwelling place of Emmanuel, God among us.

Full of the joy of the prodigy worked in her, and desiring to share it, “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah” to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant in her old age and involved in the same mysterious plan.  Entering the house, she greets her cousin and Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb.  ‘Shalom’, Peace, Mary says to Elizabeth, a Hebrew term that means ‘I wish you the fullness of life’.  Truly, Mary brought Life in her womb!

 In contact with God’s deep mystery and full of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth exclaims, “Blessed are you among women…and blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  Elizabeth’s blessing will accompany Mary to the final accomplishment of God’s plan and will also be a confirmation of the mysterious announcement of the angel.

 Today as I pause for silent contemplation, I will place myself before this Young Woman who lived her life and mission toward all of us in humility and love, sustained by a faith that was strong, pure, creative, active, and unconditional.

 Hail Mary, woman of faith, help me to grow in a daily faith.  Help me to grasp the love of Jesus, Your Son, and to share the joy of His holy friendship with others.

 The voice of Peter of Celle, holy monk

 You come on a donkey and not on the cherubim.  You come toward us and not against us.  You come to save and not to judge, to visit us in peace and not to condemn us in anger.  If you come this way, Lord Jesus, instead of fleeing from You, we run toward You.