Like a missionary, Mary hastens to Elizabeth and proclaims to her the Gospel -- the Jesus-Event -- now happening in her life. Elizabeth receives her to her home and the Peace that Mary brought with her. Mary brings the Peace that only Christ can give, and Elizabeth recognized it as such. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth recognizes Mary as "mother of my Lord". Even the babe in her womb jumped for joy at the advent of his Savior in the womb of Mary.
The fourth Sunday of Advent announces the nearness of the feast of Christmas, the memorial of the first Coming of Christ in humility. Mary, Elizabeth and the yet unborn John usher us into the feast telling us that the Gospel is like the seed in Mary's womb, yet invisible but already active and bringing to reality the reign of God among men.
Read the articles you find here, and use the following as your guide for reflection.
1. Mary has just received the Gospel from the angel and now she brings it to her cousin. The Gospel is Christ Himself.
Reflect: The Church is like Mary; she receives the Gospel and takes it to those who wait for it. The family as the cell Church should also be like Mary. As a member of your family how do you help the members of your family realize that like Mary they should also be bringing the Gospel to others?
2. Elizabeth receives Mary's announcement of the Gospel, but first she received her greeting of Peace. It is the Peace that God reserves for those who love Him; it is the Peace that comes to us through the Son and brings with it the Holy Spirit. In the Eucharist, we receive the Peace of the Lord through the one beside us after the Holy Spirit has been invoked to make those who receive the Body of Christ into the Body of Christ.
Reflect: How do you receive Christ's "Peace"? How do you make that "Peace" an energizing force in your own home?
3. John the Baptist may have been in the womb of his mom at the moment she received Mary's Good News. But he received the Good News just as warmly as she did. He was like Timothy to whom Paul said: "I have confidence that the faith which I first saw in your grandmother Loise and in your mother Eunice, also dwells in you. (2 Tim. 1:15)"
Reflect: The faith is something that we receive and cultivate at home. How do you contribute to making the faith of Mary and Elizabeth become the faith of your whole family?
