This is a homily I might give to a group of pilgrims in the Holy Land for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24, 2006; Lectionary Cycle C.
My friends, we have arrived at the place where Mary prepared for the birth of her beloved Son. We are in that very land, soon to be celebrating the birth of the savior. With some imagination, we can appreciate Jesus’ life more. He lived an earthly life here among us human beings so that we would never have to live with out his heavenly life. The politics and the religion of this place are not as the were in Jesus’ days. But even this can be for us a meditation into the mystery of the incarnation. Jesus came into a world when most of the people would never have been able conceive of even the possibility of his existence. Now we, along with so many other Christians around the world acknowledge the coming of Jesus, the God-man. And we in a special way draw near to his memory. In this Holy Land, Jesus Christ was born of Mary.
On our final eve and Lord’s day before the Christmas feast, let’s join our hearts with Mary’s. This most blessed of all women is worthy of great honor especially in how she did the will of God. We too are mothers and fathers of Jesus when we do God’s will for Christ himself promised this. Today, the Church places the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth before us and asks us to reflect more deeply, which comes to us from the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. At a time when the world could scarcely consider the existence of God the Son, Mary conceived and bore him in her womb. By accepting the angel Gabriel’s word, she was not merely lending her body to God for a period of nine months. The Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in her womb first alighted upon her intellect. She accepted her own mission and also accepted His, that he would be called the Son of the Most High. The Church honors Mary from the point of the Annunciation as the first Christian.
When you and I bring our hearts to Mary, we learn how to hasten the coming of Jesus and his holy will on earth. Upon hearing the message of the angel, Mary sped off to the house of Elizabeth, her relative. In fact, it was through Mary’s Visitation that Elizabeth was able to conceive, spiritually that is. When we read the early pages of Luke, we see that there are these two stories mixed together. The birth of Christ and the birth of John make sense together as did their two earthly lives and ministries. Remember then how Zechariah ended his encounter with Gabriel. Gabriel made him mute because of his objections that he and Elizabeth were to old to conceive John. After Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth had conceived and thanked the Lord for taking from her the reproach of human beings. Yet there was nothing in this sentence about the very unique privilege she had as the mother of a prophet.
After Gabriel’s visitation, Zechariah’s role was drastically reduced. We can imagine his shame at not being able to declare the good news to his wife. He could only have relations with her and put his faith in God. Neither Zechariah nor Elizabeth conceived of what God was doing in their lives until after some time. Particularly, Mary is the one who was called upon to introduce Elizabeth to her Lord made human. By first conceiving of Jesus through faith, Mary was able to do the works of God, the Holy Spirit. By coming to Elizabeth, Mary brought her to faith. Mary comes today to prepare us for the savior’s birth just as she brought Mary to this knowledge of Jesus. Elizabeth herself put it best when she announced, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
O Immaculate Conception! Prepare our hearts today as you were so well prepared from the beginning by the Father. Blessed are you indeed, O Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. Blessed will we be today, O Gate of Heaven, to enter into your advent. We are struck today that it is practically Christmas. The fourth week of advent is so short that we can easily disregard its meaning. Let’s make today for us Mary’s day of advent. For with Mary there was no lengthy waiting for Christ to come to her. Tomorrow, we celebrate Christ coming to Mary and Joseph in the flesh. Today, we honor the coming of Christ to Mary and to Elizabeth through faith. In the coming of Christ at Christmas, the destiny of the human race was reversed from one of damnation to one of heaven. In those who adopt a Marian heart, human life moves from ignorance and shadows to life illumined by faith in Christ.
Brothers and sisters, this faith which we learn again today is essential for understanding Christmas. Who would believe the prophet Micah, "You Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." Micah foretold this so that we could come again to Bethlehem seeing with the eyes of faith. Though Christ be denied to us a thousand times on our way to this holy day, we now fortify our faith with all of the gifts of the Spirit, including the prophecies from of old.
By conceiving in her heart, Mary not only conceived in her womb, but had the power to proceed her son. She had the power to be as he was. First, she showed this in offering herself completely to the plan of God. Second, was in her hastening to Elizabeth. According to the Letter to the Hebrews, "when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...Behold, I come to do your will." Mary could not offer sacrifice like Zechariah had so many times. Instead she offered her body and her will to Jesus Christ. Mary set the standard for spiritual faith and for all of us here today.
Now, we come again to the altar of Christ our God. He offers us his Body and Blood. Take and eat. Behold we are the menservants and the maidservants of the Lord. We come to Christ with our "Amen", our "Fiat". Father, let all be done with us according to your will. Blessed too will we be in believing that all Christ promised will so soon be fulfilled in us, in our midst and in our days. In this Holy Land, we come to receive him as this land once did and as our Mother Mary did so excellently. Holy Spirit, come to us and fill whatever we still lack in faith, hope and love. For nothing will be impossible for God.
My friends, we have arrived at the place where Mary prepared for the birth of her beloved Son. We are in that very land, soon to be celebrating the birth of the savior. With some imagination, we can appreciate Jesus’ life more. He lived an earthly life here among us human beings so that we would never have to live with out his heavenly life. The politics and the religion of this place are not as the were in Jesus’ days. But even this can be for us a meditation into the mystery of the incarnation. Jesus came into a world when most of the people would never have been able conceive of even the possibility of his existence. Now we, along with so many other Christians around the world acknowledge the coming of Jesus, the God-man. And we in a special way draw near to his memory. In this Holy Land, Jesus Christ was born of Mary.
On our final eve and Lord’s day before the Christmas feast, let’s join our hearts with Mary’s. This most blessed of all women is worthy of great honor especially in how she did the will of God. We too are mothers and fathers of Jesus when we do God’s will for Christ himself promised this. Today, the Church places the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth before us and asks us to reflect more deeply, which comes to us from the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. At a time when the world could scarcely consider the existence of God the Son, Mary conceived and bore him in her womb. By accepting the angel Gabriel’s word, she was not merely lending her body to God for a period of nine months. The Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in her womb first alighted upon her intellect. She accepted her own mission and also accepted His, that he would be called the Son of the Most High. The Church honors Mary from the point of the Annunciation as the first Christian.
When you and I bring our hearts to Mary, we learn how to hasten the coming of Jesus and his holy will on earth. Upon hearing the message of the angel, Mary sped off to the house of Elizabeth, her relative. In fact, it was through Mary’s Visitation that Elizabeth was able to conceive, spiritually that is. When we read the early pages of Luke, we see that there are these two stories mixed together. The birth of Christ and the birth of John make sense together as did their two earthly lives and ministries. Remember then how Zechariah ended his encounter with Gabriel. Gabriel made him mute because of his objections that he and Elizabeth were to old to conceive John. After Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth had conceived and thanked the Lord for taking from her the reproach of human beings. Yet there was nothing in this sentence about the very unique privilege she had as the mother of a prophet.
After Gabriel’s visitation, Zechariah’s role was drastically reduced. We can imagine his shame at not being able to declare the good news to his wife. He could only have relations with her and put his faith in God. Neither Zechariah nor Elizabeth conceived of what God was doing in their lives until after some time. Particularly, Mary is the one who was called upon to introduce Elizabeth to her Lord made human. By first conceiving of Jesus through faith, Mary was able to do the works of God, the Holy Spirit. By coming to Elizabeth, Mary brought her to faith. Mary comes today to prepare us for the savior’s birth just as she brought Mary to this knowledge of Jesus. Elizabeth herself put it best when she announced, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
O Immaculate Conception! Prepare our hearts today as you were so well prepared from the beginning by the Father. Blessed are you indeed, O Mary, who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. Blessed will we be today, O Gate of Heaven, to enter into your advent. We are struck today that it is practically Christmas. The fourth week of advent is so short that we can easily disregard its meaning. Let’s make today for us Mary’s day of advent. For with Mary there was no lengthy waiting for Christ to come to her. Tomorrow, we celebrate Christ coming to Mary and Joseph in the flesh. Today, we honor the coming of Christ to Mary and to Elizabeth through faith. In the coming of Christ at Christmas, the destiny of the human race was reversed from one of damnation to one of heaven. In those who adopt a Marian heart, human life moves from ignorance and shadows to life illumined by faith in Christ.
Brothers and sisters, this faith which we learn again today is essential for understanding Christmas. Who would believe the prophet Micah, "You Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." Micah foretold this so that we could come again to Bethlehem seeing with the eyes of faith. Though Christ be denied to us a thousand times on our way to this holy day, we now fortify our faith with all of the gifts of the Spirit, including the prophecies from of old.
By conceiving in her heart, Mary not only conceived in her womb, but had the power to proceed her son. She had the power to be as he was. First, she showed this in offering herself completely to the plan of God. Second, was in her hastening to Elizabeth. According to the Letter to the Hebrews, "when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...Behold, I come to do your will." Mary could not offer sacrifice like Zechariah had so many times. Instead she offered her body and her will to Jesus Christ. Mary set the standard for spiritual faith and for all of us here today.
Now, we come again to the altar of Christ our God. He offers us his Body and Blood. Take and eat. Behold we are the menservants and the maidservants of the Lord. We come to Christ with our "Amen", our "Fiat". Father, let all be done with us according to your will. Blessed too will we be in believing that all Christ promised will so soon be fulfilled in us, in our midst and in our days. In this Holy Land, we come to receive him as this land once did and as our Mother Mary did so excellently. Holy Spirit, come to us and fill whatever we still lack in faith, hope and love. For nothing will be impossible for God.
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