HOMILY ADVENT WEEK 03 04 – Yr II

Mary and Elizabeth; Jesus and John the Baptist

(Zep 3:14-18; Ps 33; Lk 1:39-45)

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Bishop St. Ambrose has an interesting reflection on the visitation that I thought I would adapt and make part of this homily. Here is what is found in the office of readings for today:

When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary he gave her a sign to win her trust. He told her of the motherhood of her cousin Elizabeth, an old and barren woman to show that God is able to do all that God wills. When she hears this, Mary sets out for the hill country. She does not disbelieve God’s word – she wonders and ponders this mystery, even as she feels no uncertainty over the message or doubt about the sign. She sets out, eager in purpose, dutiful in conscience, hastening in joy.

The Holy Spirit does not proceed by slow, laborious efforts. Quickly, the blessings of her coming and the Lord’s presence are made clear: as soon as “Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the child leapt in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Notice the contrast and the delicate choice of words. Elizabeth is the first to hear Mary’s voice, but John, the child within her womb, is the first to be aware of grace. Elizabeth hears with physical ears, but John leaps for joy at the meaning of the mystery. She is aware of Mary’s presence, but he is aware of the Lord’s: a woman aware of a woman’s presence, the forerunner aware of the pledge of salvation. The women speak of the grace they have received, while the children are active in secret, unfolding the mystery of love with the help of their mothers, who prophesy by the spirit of their sons.

When John leaps for joy, Elizabeth is filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Mary’s spirit rejoices in turn, yet she does not need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son, who is beyond our understanding, is active in his mother in a way beyond our understanding. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit after conceiving John, while Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit before conceiving Jesus the Lord.

Elizabeth says, “Blessed are you because you have believed.” We are also blessed because we have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God into the world and acknowledges his works.

Let Mary’s spirit be in each of us to proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we are all to bring forth Christ in faith. Every person receives the Word of God if only he or she keeps chaste, remaining pure and free from sin, our modesty undefiled. The soul that succeeds in this proclaims the greatness of the Lord, just as Mary’s soul magnified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.

In another place we read, “Magnify the Lord with me.” The Lord is magnified not because the human voice can add anything to God but because he is magnified within us. Christ is the image of God, and if the soul does what is right and holy, it magnifies that image of God in whose likeness it was created and in magnifying the image of God, the soul has a share in its greatness and is exalted.

During the month of Advent, I have been conducting Advent retreats in a variety of places, using biblical art by Fr. Seiger Köder. One piece in particular fits the readings today as it is on the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. Köder’s art is unique and very symbolic. He has a youthful Mary bending over an obviously much older Elizabeth who is kneeling with her head buried in Mary’s bosom, almost as if she is listening to the heartbeat of Jesus, whom she already calls “her Lord.” They are painted in earthen colors symbolizing their humanity.

What is so unique and striking about the painting, however, is that standing right behind them, almost as if they are flowing out of them, is Jesus and John the Baptist discussing who is to baptize whom – with John the Baptist holding a baptismal shell. These are painted in royal blue, symbolizing divinity and that the Spirit of God is very much present and at work in all four figures. The whole painting speaks of Incarnation, the bringing together of heaven and earth, divinity and humanity, which is what the Father is about in sending his son to be born among us. Verbum caro hic factum est – here, the Word of God is made flesh.

A very subtle detail in the painting is how the figure of Jesus extends right down into the brown of the earth and blends in with Mary, his mother. John the Baptist, however, has a more definite cut off just at the line where the two colors meet. This brings to life his humble words, “He must grow greater, and I must decrease.”

The whole scene evokes feelings of awe, tenderness, compassion, love, faith and peacefulness. To think that these two humble women, nobodies in the eyes of the world and hidden in the backwaters of Judea, changed the history of humanity through their faith and humble participation in God’s plan of salvation, is almost too much to comprehend.

The Eucharist itself is an experience of Incarnation, as the Word of God takes flesh in us, and the love of God becomes present in the humble gifts of bread and wine.

May our celebration strengthen our faith to be like that of Mary and Elizabeth, and empower us to joyfully give birth to Jesus in the world as they did.