4TH SUNDAY ADVENT, 19 DECEMBER 2021: MICAH 5. 2-5a; HEB 10. 5-10; LUKE 1. 39-45
Focus: The mystery of Christmas reminds us that God saves us not through mere sacrifices and offerings but through personal self-offering in the incarnation of Christ
1. We are at the threshold of the holy Christmas. In this last stretch of our Advent journey in preparing ourselves fittingly, we are presented with the figure of Mary in the scene of her visit to Elizabeth. Indeed an Image and an episode, so pregnant, indicative, and significant! She stands for the self-sacrifice and self-offering of God Himself. She symbolizes the very purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. This is very clear in the words of the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews: “Behold, I have come to do your will, o God!”
2. This Visit of Mary was not a mere courtesy visit. It is indeed a "Visitation". In the Bible, in the light of the Old Testament, Visitation of God is always an occasion, an encounter, an experience of God's intervention, especially in times of struggle or disgrace or a special plan of God. God's visitation assures His accompaniment, His guidance, His support, direction, and accomplishment. It may be to remove that particular difficulty or to realize the special purpose.
3. God "visited" Elizabeth. Thereby He removed her disgrace of sterility, and graced her with a son, even in her old age. Further, this visitation was also perfectly oriented to God's salvation plan; because, this son, John the Baptist, was predestined as the Precursor of the Messiah, chosen to prepare the way of the Lord.
4. God "visited" Mary at a young age. Apparently, this invited her to the "disgrace" and challenge of motherhood, even without marriage. But this visitation is perfectly in tune with God's plan of the Savior in the womb of Mary. Son of God as the son of Mary, without human intervention, is totally the sign and fruit of God's intervention in human history.
5. Thus Mary, being "visited" - graced and made a partner in God's plan of salvation, in turn, sets herself on visitation to Elizabeth. What a simple and powerful lesson: One who is graced by God, cannot remain stagnant. One who is visited by God's grace, cannot but visit others. Grace is always positively "contagious".
6. In other words, that Faith manifests in Mary's total docility and surrender, at the annunciation of the angel, and filled her with the Holy Spirit, moves her to Elizabeth. Yes. True faith is never static, but ever dynamic and mobile. Faith moves to others on the wings of charity.
7. Seen in this divine and spiritual perspective, charity is not merely something human, purely psychological or emotional. It is not only a positive human action and interaction but much more a spiritual divine intervention. True Charity is God's own face turned towards the humans, a portion of God's own benevolence.
8. Perhaps, we can delve a little deeper into the richness of true charity, in the light of Mary's spirit of Charity, so as to check upon our own frequent practices of a shallow charity.
1) There is "sensitivity", - feeling for the other, being empathetic toward others in their plight and struggle, sensing others' needs, even without being asked. Elizabeth was in need of Mary's assistance, and Mary anticipates it.
2) There is "magnanimity" - Mary's spacious heart makes space for Elizabeth, and so moves beyond space, cuts across distances, and visits Elizabeth.
3) There is "nobility" of character - she is not puffed up, she does not put on airs, feeling great that she is the mother of the Savior. Neither does she think low of Elizabeth as a "poor old woman". Rather in her nobility, she treats Elizabeth with respect, dignity, and concern.
4) There is "availability" - Mary is not concerned only with herself, not centered on her own needs and interests. Rather, she sets aside her time and energies. She is not closed on herself. She is open and disposed to others.
5) There is "generosity" - that which is willing, prompt, and happy to give to others, that which does not count the cost in doing good to others, that which wants to do abundant and maximum good to others.
6) There is "serviceability" - the benevolence of heart, nobility of spirit, and generosity of relation, concretely become service in action. Mary puts herself totally at the service of Elizabeth.
9. Now, let us dwell directly on the scene of visitation. Mary meets Elizabeth and greets her. At that instance, two things happen: Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe in her womb, leaps with joy. This is the Beauty of Faith and charity. At the presence of Mary, who embodies faith and charity, Holy Spirit and Joy are transmitted. In other words, Mary gives Spirit and Joy to others and moves others with the same. But this giving, this transmission of Holy Spirit and Joy was possible because Mary had Jesus within her. When we have Jesus in us, we will give others Holy Spirit and Joy.
Direction: In fact, this is the simplest and the most fundamental duty and mission of each one of us: Bear Jesus and share Jesus to others, in giving Holy Spirit and Joy. The simplest question: What do I transmit to others - Holy Spirit or evil spirit? Joy or sadness?
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 31 MAY 2020)
1. Mary visits Elizabeth, and this visitation is very significant. It is not just a courtesy visit or not only a great act of charity and service to Elizabeth in need during her pregnancy. It is deeply symbolic and efficacious, as it indicates the very visitation of God Himself, and the actualization of its effects on humanity. In the Bible through the history of salvation, visitation of God signifies His active and liberating intervention in the life of His people. Accordingly, “God visits” signifies that God is encountering and gracing that person or that community. Today in the visitation of Mary, the same happens: The Savior, conceived in Mary’s womb, visits Elizabeth and graces her and her family, who symbolizes the whole of humanity.
2. Mary, the perfect embodiment of God’s will and presence, and the abode of Jesus bears him within and shares him with others. She carries him in her and extends the same experience with others. What happens when God visits humanity in the person of Mary? This is what is concretely seen in the scene of the Visitation.
3. At the sight and encounter with Mary, two things happen: Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe in her womb leaps with joy. Jesus channeled and mediated, transmitted and extended through Mary, giving the Holy Spirit and joy.
4. Thus, the effects of visitation are quite clear: Holy Spirit and joy. In fact, these two are the greatest signs and testimonies that we have the presence and the experience of God: we are able to transmit Holy Spirit to others and move and fill others with the same Spirit, and we are able to ignite others with true and deep joy.
5. But whenever we spread only evil spirit and unhappiness to others, it is a clear sign that we are not bearing Jesus within us, and we do not carry God’s experience and presence.
6. May the Mother Mary who visited Elizabeth continue to visit us, as God’s channel of grace! May she be a model and inspiration for us! May she sustain our tiny steps and efforts in carrying and spreading God’s Spirit and joy to all others!
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 21 DECEMBER 2020)
Focus: True faith receives and enshrines Jesus within. And one who carries Jesus certainly spreads Holy Spirit and joy
At the annunciation, Mary in all docility consents to be the Mother of the Incarnate Savior. In deep faith and surrender, she receives and enshrines Jesus within her. She is filled by the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit moves her to Elizabeth in charity. Yes, if faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit, the charity will be the real fruit of faith because true faith never keeps one sterile and stagnant. It will make one productive in a vibrant journey of charity.
The scene of visitation clearly teaches us that true faith cannot simply remain confined to the self but flows out into charity. Mary’s faith leads her to sensitivity, magnanimity, and generosity towards Elizabeth. Mary does not fall into presumption and false dignity of her motherhood. But in humility and nobility, goes to Elizabeth who was in need! Mary perfectly fits into the figure of the beloved in the Song of Songs. God, the Supreme speaks to her, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one!” She listens to the voice of God, the Lover. She is filled with the fragrance and radiance of love and joy. With the same, she travels across the mountains and hills, to Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees her lovely face and hears a sweet voice. In fact, this loveliness and sweetness are not only hers but much more of Jesus that she is bearing within. Consequently, she would move both the mother and the child, Elizabeth and John the Baptist, with the Spirit and with joy. This is the simplest spirituality and mission of everyone: to give the Holy Spirit and joy to others.
Direction: To radiate the Holy Spirit and joy is possible only when one carries Jesus within. True faith is ever contagious; it will affect and move the self with charity and will touch and vibrate others with the Holy Spirit and joy
No comments:
Post a Comment