Fourth Sunday of Advent (O Rex Gentium)
Also Read: Mass Readings for 22 December 2024 Mass Reading Reflection for 22 December 2024
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45
Luke 1: 24 reads thus, “After this, Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.” Her self-imposed seclusion came to a halt when her cousin Mary visited her during the sixth month of her pregnancy.
As we are ready to celebrate Christmas, we are encouraged to go through those holy events once again. The news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy was revealed to Mary as a sign from above. It did not rest with her as a casual information. She took it upon herself to go all the way to Elizabeth’s house, some hundred miles away from her home. It was not a courtesy visit, Mary stayed with her for the rest of her pregnancy helping her through.
Ordinary news becomes Good News when it is shared. When you extend a helping hand during difficult times, you become their good news. Christmas is a call to become good news for someone in need. Mary took it on herself to serve her through the pregnancy in her advanced age. She gently helped her out of the self-imposed seclusion. Thus, Mary not only carried the Good News in her womb, but also transformed herself to be good news for Elizabeth.
Christmas, for us Christians, is a call to carry the Good News and to transform ourselves into good news. Carry the Good News like Mary. Carry it like the angels, the shepherds and the Magi. They did not try to conceal it, but went loud about it, and shared it with joy. Christmas will be reduced to a seasonal festival if we restrict ourselves from proclaiming the Good News: Jesus. The orchestrated efforts to remove Christ from Christmas is evident today. They wish us happy holidays, rather than Merry Christmas.
These are not ‘holidays’, these are holy days. Beginning today we are entering holy days that celebrate the incarnation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us invite our family and friends to celebrate the holy days of the birth of Jesus and the surrounding events. Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us be bold in proclaiming the Good News of Christmas.
Let us receive the good news as Our Lady received it. She received it with humility and shared it with joy. We receive it because God is merciful. We proclaim it proudly because He has chosen us to be His instruments in spreading the joy of Incarnation. Let our lives witness that God is with us. It is our privilege and sacred duty.
When Mary visited Elizabeth, the child in her womb leaped with joy. Let our words and deeds cause a leap in faith for those around us.
Amen.
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